It started way back in the early 1900’s, deep down where no one could see it. A complex network of sewer pipe was installed beneath my house with the sole purpose of keeping things concealed. Disgusting things. Things we all try to keep hidden (you know what I mean).

And for the first one hundred and fourteen years, it worked great.

Over time, however, the system grew increasingly weak, and finally collapsed without warning. The sewer lines could no longer withstand the pressure, and the very things it was responsible to keep contained started coming to the surface.

With no idea how bad the situation had become underground, I went downstairs and discovered raw sewage mushrooming out of a hole in the basement floor. If I’m honest, it was a bit startling. Neither plungers nor prayers could stop it, so I did the only thing a clear-thinking Christian could do:

I called a guy on the phone and told him I’d give him money to come and deal with my mess.   

A Dirty-Rotten Job:

When he got there, the plumber started jamming things into that hole and pulling out stuff that I don’t want to talk about. By the end of his 30-minute visit, my houseguest had not only smelled my refuse, but had stood in it, and knelt in it as well. It was on his pants…his hands…

This just wasn’t supposed to happen, and I felt terrible for the guy. Knowing that he’d go home smelling like my toilet made me feel sorry for his whole family. Some things aren’t meant to be shared, and sewage is one of them. You never understand how bad things have gotten until innocent people start getting splattered with your excrement.

…this stuff doesn’t wash off easily

For the next week and a half, plumbers, excavators, and sewer repair professionals converged upon my home. Each one taking their turn at fixing the rancid mess I was accountable for. This was a first for me. I never realized how much work it can take, how expensive it would get, and how many people could be affected by an uncontrolled black-water problem.

A Long-Standing Concern:

The whole charade reminded me of that oft quoted statement Jesus made in Luke 6:45: “What you say flows from whatever’s in your heart”. Our minds are a system of inter-connected channels, buried deep down where nobody can see. Thoughts are pouring into those channels constantly, many of which no one needs to know about. They’re offensive & unwelcome, so you naturally keep them hidden.

The problems come, however, not because we keep them hidden, but because we keep them around. The heart is designed to function more like a sewer system than a septic tank. The waste of unholy thoughts & feelings are meant to be flushed away, not stored. Sin doesn’t wash clean on its own, and in due time, that spiritual sediment starts backing up, looking for another way out.

It usually comes to the surface in a friendly tone of voice, made to look like a humble admission (E.g. “Hey, I just want to confess that I’ve been secretly hating you for the last 114 years”). And you finally feel a whole lot better after unclogging your septic heart, but what about the unsuspecting sap on the receiving end of your “confessional”? No matter how pretty you tried to make it sound, they just got splattered with the sludge that came out. Now they get to go home with the foul reality of what you’ve been thinking about them for so long. And believe me, this stuff doesn’t wash off easily.

A Way Better Technique:

Flushing your mind of the filth that your heart can so easily generate is a quick and easy way to serve your Christian family, and it’s a service we all deserve. Any child of God can “Capture rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ” (II Cor.10:5). Learning to combat sinful feelings, silly offenses, and personal grudges is a skill not beyond your reach. It’s actually your responsibility.

The heart is designed to function like a sewer system

Every toilet is built with a flush-handle. Using it with regularity keeps everybody happy. Likewise with the heart. Once everyone in the household of God commits to doing that, we’ll all be able to enjoy the fresh air of fellowship again.

If that isn’t happening, you might be the one to blame for the stench.

A Deeply Buried Issue:

Well, it was a rough month at the Thomson’s house, but in the end, we all survived the putrid affair: The workers got paid in full, the pipes got buried once more, and my biffy flushes like it should.

And we all hope this never, ever happens again.

Ever.

In the days before anybody kept tabs on social distances, my wife and I crammed our family into a gymnasium with several hundred strangers just for fun. It was a Saturday, and volunteers from the University were hosting a “track meet” of sorts for children of all ages. Our kids like to run, we like our kids, it all made sense.

The Ones I Call My Own

Nora, being in the “3-year old and under” bracket ran first, while I ran alongside. I paid little attention to whether she ran faster or slower than the other kids, because that wasn’t the point. I just enjoyed my time with her. Not sure why, but I was proud of her. Something endearing about trotting next to your daughter while she does her best to keep up.      

It’s important for a child to recognize that their dad actually likes being their father

Ira was different. I didn’t need to run with him because he didn’t need the same kind of coaching. He already knows which direction to run, and he knows what it means to stay in his lane. Even still, I was there at every turn, cheering for him, reminding him to pace himself, just glad to be a part of this kid’s life. I like being a dad.

Enjoying Fatherhood

We’re told that God loves us as a father loves his own children, but, if you’re like me, that’s sometimes a difficult concept to grasp. I sure enjoy being my children’s father, but does God really like being mine? I’m well-versed enough to know that I’m His son, but I want to feel like it too. I think it’s important for a child to recognize that their dad actually likes being their father, not just theoretically or doctrinally, but experientially.

As a child of God, I treasure those moments where His love for me is unmistakable. That Saturday at the gym was one of those times, although the lesson didn’t start until after my kids had crossed the finish line.

The One I’d Never Met

We were on our way out when the middle-schoolers took to the track. Among them was a cocky young man who was ready to show the world just how fast he was. The gun snapped, and off he went like a cheetah. Half a lap later, he was well ahead of everyone else, including the pace-setter. There was no mistaking the youthful arrogance of this character, but having run a race or two myself, I knew what the future held for a guy like him. He was about to hit a wall he didn’t know existed, and somebody needed to be there to help him through it.

The boy was losing speed fast. The pace-setter easily regained the lead with the rest of the pack just behind. One by one, from the fastest to the slowest, every single contestant passed him by. Dead last, red in the face, and barely able to breath, he was physically beat and emotionally humiliated.

I noticed that his father had given full attention to his Smartphone, and it crushed me to imagine my own children in this kids track-shoes. All alone and already defeated, without a dad to trot next to them. Looking at him only made me think of my own son. It was heart-breaking. I simply couldn’t bear it, so I hustled to the edge of the track and walked alongside the boy I’d never met. “Don’t give up” I said, with the best fatherly tone I could muster, “Whatever you do, never give up”.  

Loved Like a Son

I watched him all the way around the last lap to make sure that he would finish the race. And when he did, I walked right out on to the track just to congratulate him. He lost the race by a mile, but I felt like he just won the Olympics. As strange as it was, I was proud of that kid. It was all I could do to stop myself from hugging him. For a moment, he became like a son to me. There’s no way to explain why I felt like I did about that boy, other than that I have kids of my own, and I was able to love him because I already love them.

Loved By Our Father

God’s love for us is easy to overlook. We’re so busy running around all the time trying to keep up with each other, we pay little attention to what’s right in front of us. But don’t miss it…

There’s a mysterious Father standing alongside the track you’re running on, who counts you as His own. For some strange reason, you’ve caught His attention, and He loves you, even though you might not feel like it. He’s shouting encouragement at you, even if you can’t hear it. He doesn’t care how well you do in relation to others, He just doesn’t want you to give up. His heart yearns to see you finish well, even if you come in dead last on the track. And when you cross that finish line, He’s going to be right there to congratulate you.  

There’s no other way to explain it than that He already has a Son of His own…and He loves that Boy. Always has, always will. When He looks at you, He thinks of Him, and that’s how His affections for us can be as strong as they are. Take it from me, God likes being a Dad.

Only some of you might be fathers, but all of us are children…loved by One who truly enjoys watching you run this race.  

Happy Father’s Day kids.

I called Menards this morning to see if they had a facemask policy yet. My kids, being under the age of 16, have already been barred from entering the place, and I needed to know if restrictions had gotten any tighter (I wasn’t interested in a shoving match with the bouncer, I just wanted to “save big money”). The clerk assured me that there was no such policy yet, but warned me that it could change at any moment. With an unexpected shot of adrenaline I grabbed my in-store rebates and sped away like it was the end of the world.

Buying lightbulbs isn’t anything like it used to be now that everybody’s dressed like a hijacker. Shopping feels dangerous. People treat one another like they’re lethal. The level of social warmth hasn’t seen this kind of a plummet since the introduction of Smartphones.

They say it’s the “new normal”, and I’m sad about that.    

SIMILAR SITUATION

If anything, the social climate we’re living in right now provides fantastic insight into a passage like the one in Luke 17 where Jesus “cleanses 10 lepers” (vs.11-19). There we meet a number of men under quarantine because of a life-threatening communicable disease spread by air-born droplets and/or physical touch (sound familiar?). Holding the size of their small group at ten or less individuals, these guys would’ve made any modern Governor proud. Special laws were enforced in such situations to prevent any further spread: “As long as the serious disease lasts, they will be ceremonially unclean [i.e. ‘can’t go to church’]. They must live in isolation [i.e. ‘quarantine’] outside the camp [i.e. ‘away from the community’]” (Leviticus 13:46). Can you relate?

You’ll notice also that they respected Jesus’ personal space as He passed by. Standing “afar off” (vs.12) they were careful not to violate the guidelines set forth by their lawmakers. “Social distancing” might be a new term in our own English vocabulary, but it’s not at all a new concept: “Lepers were strictly forbidden to come near other people or to interact with anyone…so great was the fear…lepers were forbidden to come within 6’ of a healthy person” [Edersheim]). Whether healthy or sick, the entire culture knew the expectations, and dutifully conformed. For them, it had become “normal”.

People treat one another like they’re lethal

Welcome to the leper colony, folks; it’s called “earth”. Can’t go anywhere; can’t see anybody. Now we know what it was like. I’ll bet it was nearly impossible for these guys to buy lightbulbs.

SIMILAR ADMIRATION

But small groups and social distances aren’t the only thing we have in common with these 10 particular men. For those of us in the discipleship community, we share a similar respect for Jesus as well.

In verse 13 the lepers “lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master”. The term “Master” (“epistates”) is a specific title found in the New Testament that’s always used in reference to Jesus. It indicates ownership, and it’s used by His Disciples in every single instance but this one. Curiously, these lepers held the same regard for Jesus as His most loyal followers did. Whether they had ever formally met Jesus or not we don’t know, but one thing is certain, these men knew who He was. They admired Him. And for that reason also, we are a lot like them.

SIMILAR EMANCIPATION

Little did these lepers know at the time; their quarantine was about to end. God never intended for them to stay in isolation forever. They were meant to encounter Jesus in the crisis. He was the one who would rescue them from their plight, lift the restrictions, and in mercy, give them a fresh start in life. After what seemed to be an eternity, someone had finally come with the authority to grant them freedom, and the first wonderful word from His mouth, was “Go”.

And they gladly obeyed. Paying a visit to their House of Worship was of first importance, as Jesus had specified (vs.14). The Lord intended not only to grant them freedom, but to establish their priorities as well, which wouldn’t have been a concern for these men at all. Their religion had been on hold for a long time now, and they were more than ready to obey.

In full submission, they hurried to see the priest. With the colony behind them and the faith community ahead, liberty never felt better. Each step was lighter than the one before, when to their surprise, they discovered that every last trace of their disease had vanished somewhere along the way! It was gone! And with it, the pain, the loneliness, and the social isolation as well.

There was suddenly a “new normal” to get used to, and they were happy about that.

SIMILAR DECISION

We’re told in this account that one of these ten individuals decided to return to Jesus, “thanking Him & glorifying God” (vs.15-16). Enduring what he did had a profound, spiritually maturing effect upon this man, and he’d never be the same again. Anyone who reads Luke 17 can easily recognize that his example, in this story, is the one we should follow. And yet, very few will.

The Lord intends not only to grant us freedom, but to establish our priorities as well

Luke didn’t tell us what happened to the rest of these men after they were given their freedom. They probably went right back to the same life they had before the crisis even began. Same social circle, same synagogue, same routine. We don’t know for sure. What we do know, however, is that this was the end of a short relationship with Jesus. The closest they ever came to Him was while they were under quarantine. Ironically, nine of these ten men were never healthier than when they still had leprosy.

TIME WILL TELL

One day our little “stay-at-home” order, like theirs, will be over. The restrictions will no longer apply, everybody will reunite with their friends, and buying lightbulbs will be easy again. But the pressing question is whether you’ll be any different when it’s over than you were before the crisis even started.

What being released from quarantine did for those ten men, was to clarify who among them had real faith in Jesus (vs.19). For a full 90% of their small group, Jesus wasn’t really their “Master” at all, like they said He was. They escaped leprosy only to find that they were sicker than they ever knew.

The health of a person’s soul isn’t always best seen in times of emergency, but in how they return to normalcy once it’s over. An eager scramble to recover the life you thought you’d lost is a symptom of a deeper, spiritual sickness if it only distances you from Jesus. Yet that’ll no doubt prove to be the way most people in the church respond to the recovery of our freedoms. Nothing should scare you more than that. Neither leprosy nor COVID-19 are as great a threat to your eternal future as having earthly priorities. 

If your chief concern is nothing more than to get your life back and return to Christian fellowship as usual, then enjoy your time of isolation with Jesus while you still have it. History shows that once He allows people under quarantine to go back to the House of Worship, He may never see them again.

But for those with genuine faith in Christ, hold tight to Jesus whether we’re stuck in this sick colony or not. We’ll be free again soon enough. And for us, the best is yet to come.  

If uncertainty were a virus, more people would test positive for that one than for COVID-19.

Men & women all over the world are dying to know what the future holds, why we’re in this mess, and what to do to make it stop. With information changing by the hour, even Christians are left to question what God means by all of this: How are we supposed to be remain “on mission” with so many social restrictions? What will we do when “two or more” are no longer able to legally “gather”? How are we supposed to “seek and save the lost”? Through Snapchat?

God’s Purpose in a Pandemic:

The answer is simple: God is allowing the Church to suffer like she is because it’s a vital part of her beautification. It’s always been this way, and it’ll always be this way until the Lord returns. His goal from the very beginning has been to “present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Eph.5:27). He’s removing the “spots & wrinkles” through a process He calls “sanctification”. He employs the use of trial & tribulation to enhance the Church. That’s what He’s doing right now. He’s making her prettier.

A Classic Technique:

Certain crises throughout the history of the Church are largely responsible for the way she looks today. From the very start, God’s people have been intermittently hit with sudden, unexpected emergencies that forced her to either adapt or die; to become beautiful, or to remain ugly. These were watershed moments; paradigm shifts. Undesirable at first, but vital for the overall strength & success of the Church. Situations that initially seemed to be disastrous, were actually being used by God to customize an attractive Bride for His Son.

A difficulty like this one is nothing new for the Church.

Beauty School:

In her infancy, for example, when Christ ascended into heaven, He left the Church behind to learn how to navigate life with a different “Helper” (Acts 1 & 2). As uncomfortable as it was, the change needed to be made. Had she not been forced to depend upon the Holy Spirit, the Church might still be trying to serve the Lord in the strength of her flesh. But she stayed true and learned to put her trust in the Spirit, all for the One she loves. How beautiful!   

Or how about when she was so severely attacked that her people were “scattered throughout the regions” (Acts 8:1)? Had the Lord not exposed her to persecution, the Church might have been stopped dead in her tracks, going no further than the city limits of Jerusalem. But, she remained faithful and learned to adapt herself to a different routine, all for the One she loves. That’s beautiful!   

And then there was the time when the Church realized that Gentiles were every bit the object of God’s love as the Jews were (Acts 10:28). A hard pill for a Hebrew to swallow, but had the Lord not forced the issue, many of us would still be in the dark, to this very day. Difficulty came upon the Church, but she faithfully rose to the occasion, and she’s never looked the same since. She’s beautiful!

Another Treatment:

In classic form, the Lord has introduced the modern Church to another sudden & unexpected emergency. In only a few short months every area of life & living has become governed by COVID-19. Our physical, social, emotional, financial, vocational, educational, and even our spiritual purviews have all been brought under its domain. We are, and will be, forced to make decisions that will affect the trajectory of the Church for generations to come. Worship, service, and fellowship have already begun to look different for us. Will we adapt, or will we die?

The Help We Need:

It’s true that we didn’t ask for this. But God saw that we needed it. Sometimes, the only way to move forward, is to go through a wall of fire. But when the fire is lit by God Himself, we know that He doesn’t plan to kill us with it, but to purify us through it. What’s happening today is no accident. The Lord brings a crisis upon His Church whenever He sees that the Church needs a crisis. We might not like what He’s doing, but it’ll be hard to argue against His decision once you see the outcome. The discipline of God can look and feel extreme, but the results are no less stunning.

Pretty Already:

But maybe you think you’re pretty enough as it is. Perhaps you don’t feel it necessary to make changes or adapt yourself to the Lord’s ideal because you assume that you’re already there. The truth is, when a person sees themselves as naturally irresistible, they inevitably reject God’s attempt to sanctify them any further. People like that can’t see a need for God’s help at all. They don’t think they need to be made appealing, because they believe that they already are.

Adapt or die…

Experts are saying that the world will never be the same again after this, and I suppose they’re right. I hope you won’t be either. Without compromising any of our core beliefs, I hope the Christians of our generation will allow the Lord to make the changes He wants to make. The Church will be more beautiful if we do. Especially in our knowledge of Christ, and our role in this world. I hope that each of us, as individuals, will embrace our plight and remain true to the Lord. We won’t be getting any prettier unless we do.

A Better Bride:

If you want to become the person God’s designed you to be, now’s the time. It’s important for us to understand that our current situation was orchestrated with that in mind. This is one of God’s sovereign purposes for the Coronavirus. There is nothing like a global pandemic to reveal the true heart of the people in a church. When all of this is said and done, the Church will either be more attractive than ever, or no better than we were before.

Sometimes, the only way to move forward, is to go through a wall of fire

God wants us all to learn and to grow through the crisis He’s provided. Our main interest during this pandemic shouldn’t be so much in keeping our hands clean, as it should be in remaining faithful. We need His help in becoming a different Church, a better Church, and these are the circumstances He’s provided through which that can happen.

Serve the Lord, remain faithful, and I can guarantee you, the Church will never look the same again.

How far are you willing to go to let yourself become more attractive to Jesus?

One of the distinct features of the Holy Spirit is the consolation He brings to His own people. Specifically referred to as our “Comforter”, the Spirit of Christ reserves some of His greatest work for those who grieve. And we praise Him for that. Nobody has a big problem being comforted. The real challenge on the other hand, is allowing ourselves to qualify for it. If comfort is to be offered, there must be a reason for it, a legitimate need. To know & experience the Holy Spirit as our Comforter therefore, will demand our misery, anxiety, and/or despair…all the things we hope and pray to avoid. But He cannot become a comfort to us until we desperately need it.   

Stay Put…

The last command that Jesus gave to men on this planet was to “wait”, and it was made in reference to the Holy Spirit. If His disciples wanted what the Holy Spirit had to offer, they’d be expected to remain patient. The Holy Spirit operates on a different timetable than we do, and we cannot rush (nor delay) His perfect work. Especially in regard to comforting us in difficult times. He cannot and will not become a comfort to us unless we diligently wait for Him.

When you run away from a difficult situation you’re only running away from where the Holy Spirit was scheduled to meet you

Exactly how hard it was for Christ’s men to obey that final command is impossible for us to know. Until, of course, Jesus requires the same thing of you.

Don’t Go…

In times of crisis, the last thing we want to do is “wait” for help. But unlike some over-the-counter pain medicines, the Holy Spirit doesn’t promise “immediate relief”. Pain and suffering have too much intrinsic value for God to purge your life of them too quickly. Your job isn’t to avoid pain at all costs. And it’s not your responsibility to rush the work of the Spirit. All God expects you to do is resist the temptation to walk away before He gets there to help. One of the greatest personal disciplines of any hurting Christian is to wait for the promise of Comfort.  

If you ever hope to experience the consolations of the Holy Spirit in times of crisis, you’ll need to reject the cheap substitutes offered by the world. And there are many. You already know what they are, and you know which ones you’re most liable to indulge in. Whether it be alcohol or naps, TV and ice cream, hot showers and comfort food, we have countless methods to cope with our gloom, none of which involve the Holy Spirit. If we won’t wait upon Christ for comfort in times of distress, we may never experience the richness of the Holy Spirit’s ministry.

Some hapless Christians have already missed out on the greatest comfort they could ever have known because they left the place they were commanded to stay at. When you run away from a difficult situation you’re only running away from where the Holy Spirit was scheduled to meet you.  

Just Wait…

Sometimes we’re in such a hurry for the wretchedness to end, we grab ahold of the first and easiest thing that promises relief. Unfortunately (for those with impulsive tendencies), the world is usually quicker to offer you reprieve than God is willing to come to your rescue. Rest assured, the Lord desires to comfort you. But He also wants your suffering to run its full course and have its full effect. The world, however, does not. The world has no interest in you becoming a better Christian. It only wants you to be comfy. Satan only wants you to be comfy. Your flesh only wants to be comfy, but God wants better things for His children. Far better things. That’s why He’s given us His Holy Spirit.  

Our Father allows suffering, not to push us away from Him, but to bring us closer. Never forget that.

Are you in a particularly challenging situation lately? Count yourself blessed when you fall into various trials like yours. That’s God preparing you to experience His Holy Spirit in a way that’s off-limits to those who live a trouble-free life. Wait for the Holy Spirit to come and fulfill His ministry. He will comfort you in due time. It’s what He does.    

“From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord” Psalm 121

It’s no secret that Christians are supposed to be “missional”. We read about it and talk about it and think about it. But many Christians aren’t personally convinced that they’re being it…and perhaps you are one of them. You’re not sure how to do it, or what it really means. You’d really like to be used by God, and to varying degrees you try, but you’re not sure if it’s actually happening. You wish God’s will was clearer, and you wish you had more evidence that you were truly in it. But, as it is, you’re not satisfied with your performance. You don’t feel too missional at all. And you don’t feel very radical either. And sometimes, you start wondering if you’re even being remotely biblical.

THE MOTIVE:

“A worker’s hunger drives him on” (Pr. 16:26)…

People naturally start to feel hungry when they don’t eat enough food. That’s usually how we know it’s time for supper. In the same way, Christians get famished when they lose sight of God’s will. They might stuff their lives with religious activities that look spiritually nutritious, but they’re left feeling empty anyway. The real “food” of a Christian is to “do the will of Him who sent us”, and some of you are getting hungry. In spite of the fact that you’re busy at church, and diligently reading your Bible, you feel a pang. Your appetite is growing, and becoming harder to ignore. You really, really want something to eat.

It’s no secret that Christians are supposed to be “missional”

Good intentions, however, as sincere they may be, won’t always get the job done. Countless men & women have discovered within themselves a strong desire to live an effective life in their community, yet go no further than that. People like this want the satisfaction of spiritual vitality, but they aren’t engaging their community unless it’s in a group setting, sanctioned by the church. They’d like to be an effective Christian witness, but they aren’t winning souls to Christ like other people seem to be. They want the fullness of a fruitful Christian life, but their branches are still barren.

THE MANDATE:

“Go! …I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say” (Ex.4:12)…

In most cases, the reason for spiritual malnourishment like this, is fear. A hunger-suppressing dread that helps people avoid the real meal, and still live with a relative amount of comfort. They aren’t as healthy or as happy as they could be, but they aren’t exactly dying either, and so their spiritual life remains the same: Humdrum & hollow.  

If you are apprehensive about sharing the truth with intimidating people, join the club. Moses did his best to avoid it (Ex.4:13), Jeremiah complained about it (Jer.20:7-8), and Paul asked for prayer on it (Eph.6:19). From beginning to end, the Kingdom of God has been stocked with people who are challenged by their charge. Being missional comes naturally to no one, but if you’re waiting for this to become easy, you’ll be waiting for a long time.    

THE MISSION:

“The fields are ripe…I sent you to reap” (Jn.4:38)…

In John 4 the Disciples had gone in to town for food, leaving Jesus behind at an isolated well. He’s all alone. There was little, if any opportunity whatsoever to be missional at that point. Until, of course, a spiritually destitute woman just-so-happens to show up. Jesus, not one to believe in ‘coincidence’, then commits a massive cultural faux pas, by initiating a conversation with that strange woman (a Samaritan nonetheless). Jewish norms forbade such interaction, but Jesus made the decision in that moment, to do “the will of God who sent Him” instead of abiding by man’s self-protective customs. God wanted Him to say something to that otherwise repulsive woman. So that’s what He did.

And, as you would’ve anticipated, things got painfully awkward.

The Disciples were rendered nearly speechless when they returned and saw what was going on. They did their best to reduce the inherent tension of Jesus-style evangelism by “urging Jesus to eat”. They just wanted to hurry things along so they could feel ordinary again. Jesus’ men wanted to get themselves out of the situation as fast as possible, because they couldn’t stomach the social pressure, and had no real appetite for that kind of work. They preferred to go hungry.

Sound familiar?

THE MEAL:

“Lift up your eyes and look” (Jn.4:35)…

If you’re feeling useless & unsettled about the contributions you’ve been making (or not making) to Jesus’ mission, you’ve got an important decision to make: Either ignore the conviction, or do something about it. I would encourage you to eat. Stop letting fear suppress your desire to engage the people around you in meaningful dialogue, and let yourself be fed by it. Even when there seems to be little, if any opportunity whatsoever to be missional, lift up your eyes and look. You’re not as alone as you might’ve thought, and it’s no coincidence that you are where you are.  

If there really is more work to be done in God’s Kingdom than there are workers to do it (Luke 10:2), it follows that God would gladly supply you with as much work as you have hours to fill (Matthew 20:1-7). It’s useless for us, like His Disciples, to try and get Jesus to quit forcing us into clumsy social situations. The awkwardness of Christian evangelism is the very food He’s urging us to eat.

So, how hungry are you?

“Blessed are those who are hungry…they will be filled”

Jesus has offered to share His “food” with anyone who’s willing to eat it. His style of mission & ministry might not be the most appetizing to your eyes, but there is nothing like it to so nourish your soul. If you’re feeling weak and unsatisfied in your spiritual performance, you need to dine with Him. A growling stomach won’t feed itself, but it’s usually enough to get something out of you, isn’t it?

The mission of God is, and always has been, for people like you and me to reach others with the truth. Those strange, repulsive, socially intimidating people that we’re surrounded by. You can share Jesus with anybody you want to…any time…any where…any one. Nothing will fill you up like that.

It’s time for supper. Let’s eat.

(Click here to watch an inspirational story about a Christian kid who was hungry for more, faced his fears, and was filled beyond measure for “doing the will of God who sent him”)