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When was the last time that Jesus interrupted your
life? You were content in the direction you were headed
when all of a sudden Jesus stepped into you life setting
you on a new course of action. Jesus has a way of
waking us from our complacency. I believe that it is
precisely at those times when we grow too comfortable
that Jesus breaks into our lives, getting our attention,
setting us out in a new direction.
The disciples were preparing for their first solo
mission trip. They might very well have been feeling
some apprehension, as we do whenever we try something
new. Jesus instructed his disciples to travel light and
not to let one bad experience stop them in their
tracks. “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves”
Jesus instructed them. Jesus never promised that being
a follower would be easy or effortless. There is always
a cost involved in following Jesus.
As
we go out in Jesus’ name, out to where we live and work,
we do so with a clear understanding of who we are—modern
day disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus was clear in his
directions, “it is enough for the disciple to be like
the teacher, and the slave like the master.” And then
Jesus warned, “If they have called the master of the
house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of
his household!” Sometimes our egos get in the way of
our discipleship. We successfully lead another person
to Jesus and suddenly elevate ourselves, thinking that
we do so all by ourselves. Through our words and
actions we point the way to Jesus never pointing to
ourselves.
Jesus did not always have an easy time either. He faced
opposition from all sorts of people. Some people who
opposed him called him unflattering, mean names. If
people were unkind to Jesus then the disciples should
expect the same treatment. It is not easy being a
disciple. If Jesus had to endure such treatment, those
who follow him should also.
The question becomes why would Jesus send out his
disciples knowing that they would have a rough time,
people calling them names and worst? Wouldn’t Jesus
want to shield his followers from such bad experiences?
Jesus sent them out, as he sends us knowing full well
that it will not always be easy. When you stop to think
about it, sometimes our most profound growth and
learning has come from periods of adversity or conflict.
We invite a new neighbor to church
with us, the person is not too kind, slams the door in
our face, or hangs up the phone. Or someone will ask a
question and not like your response. Such experiences
may cause you to question your own faith, or why you
believe what you believe. You enter into a time of
prayer, or read your Bible, or other devotional
resources. In the process you grow in your faith. The
next time you will be better prepared.
Jesus is speaking a word of
encouragement to his disciples and to us. Do not let
one bad experience stop you dead in your tracks. Get
up, shake the dust from your feet, and continue. “So
have no fear of them,” Jesus said. What others may
think of us is of no consequence to us—we belong to
Jesus. With this new sense of confidence we can
“proclaim from the rooftops” that Jesus is Lord for the
entire world to hear.
A couple of years ago Jim Burns
took his tow teenage daughters with him on a mission
trip to Mexico. The girls were less than enthusiastic
about the trip especially when they learned that there
would be no blow dryers for their hair. The first night
they complained they did not like the food and they did
not like the bugs.
However by noon the next day they
had fallen in love with the village and its children.
The food wasn’t any better and the bugs had actually
gotten worse, but none of this seemed to matter
anymore. After a couple more days of teaching children
in Vacation Bible School and putting in hours of hard
labor to build a church, the girls wanted to stay longer
and were the first to sign up for the next mission trip.
What changed their perspective?
Jim reflected, “Our hearts were broken with what breaks
the heart of God. We felt like God was at work through
our meager attempts of ministry.” Then he adds, “That’s
humbling and rewarding.” (1)
We step out in faith filled with
confidence. When we step out we do so knowing that
there are risks involved. A theme that was repeated
during last month’s Annual Conference is that it is time
for struggling churches to step out in faith not afraid
to take risks. It is time to try something new, to
attract people not to us but to Jesus. It’s time to
shake it up and try new things. But we may protest we
like things the way there are, we are comfortable and do
not like change. It is at those times that Jesus has a
way of disrupting our lives. Words to describe the
opposite of risk taking faith are safe, predictable,
comfortable, certain, convenient, and fearful. However
those words do not describe the ministry Jesus envisions
for each of us.
We
stand in awe of all that God has done for us. Beyond a
shadow of a doubt we know that God loves each and every
one of us and that nothing can ever sever that
relationship. If God knows when a sparrow falls to the
ground, how much more does God care about each one of
us. “So do not be afraid,” Jesus says, “you are of more
value than many sparrows.”
Jesus calls us to risk-taking faith. “Do not think that
I have come to bring peace to the earth,” Jesus says, “I
have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” When we see
injustice in our community we do all in our power to
correct it. When we see people in need we respond not
out of guilt but out of love.
There may be times when our faith in Jesus Christ might
cause rifts within our own families. Even our most
important relationships are not exempt from disagreement
when we take our faith seriously. Jesus said, “I have
come to set a man against his father, and a daughter
against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her
mother-in-law.” How I wish Jesus had never said this.
Doesn’t Jesus know how strained family relationships can
be?
What Jesus demands is our very
best, our radical commitment. For the first time in
Matthew’s gospel Jesus talks about the cross, “and
whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not
worthy of me.”
When we view ourselves as disciples of Jesus, first and
foremost, and live for him we find a greater sense of
purpose, “those who lose their life for my sake will
find it.” We find our life by surrendering to Jesus by
serving and loving others. Let me ask you again, when
was the last time Jesus interrupted your plans? If you
cannot answer that question then maybe it is time to
step out in risk-taking faith. We have nothing to fear
and all to gain.
Amen.
1. Jim Burns,
“Teaching Compassion” Christian Parenting Today, Winter
2003, Vol. 16, page 28.
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