Divine Direction

Life is led by our choices and actions. You are where you are now as a culmination of your choices. While itis important to assess where you currently are, it is more important to know the direction that you’re headed. In the story of Jesus being anointed at Bethany with oil by Mary (John 12:1 – 12), there were multiple people at the same dinner party, and yet not all of them were heading in the same direction. Forexample, Jesus was headed to the cross to die, save humanity, and sit next to the Father in heaven. Marywas pouring precious perfume on Jesus’s feet and her direction and focus was on Jesus. Judas, outwardly critical of Mary, was headed towards betrayal. It is essential for us to be aware of our direction and todetermine if this is a path that is worth pursuing. Like Jesus who got his direction from the Father (John5:19), we too should be following direction from above. If we find ourselves off course, we can still correctourselves much like Peter, who after denying Jesus three times, repented (changed direction, changed hismind) and emerged from his brokenness to become the rock on which God built His church.

While we are in pursuit of what God has planned for us as individuals, we should also corporately pursue the direction God has for the church. In Acts (Acts 2:1-21) and Revelation (Rev 7:9-12), it is clear that when God calls people to do His will, he calls from “every tribe, nation, and tongue”. Heaven is a rich tapestry of interwoven cultures and it is God’s intention that this diversity is to be reflected on earth (Matt 6:10).Therefore, as a church, we should follow God’s direction to cultivate diversity within our community toreflect the beauty of Heaven. Pastor Jon reveals the exciting new direction of NorthGate answering God’s call of diversity. NorthGate will expand and assume leadership of RiverRock church in the West Side ofBuffalo starting July 2020 and operate as “one church, two locations”. This will enable NorthGate to fulfillGod’s vision of a more multi-cultural church and a more multi-cultural community and expand ministry to college students from Buffalo State and D’Youville Colleges. God is calling for more intentional outreach,and NorthGate is answering this call.