Monday! A new work week! For some of us, a day back to something
like normal after the winter storm that turned life upside down. (I’m still
working off a generator at home, without the usual amenities of 21st
century life.) What are you going to do with this new week? Many people will just let
life happen to them, following the patterns of habit, saying the same things,
going the same places; same stuff,
different day.
What about you?
God, the Holy Spirit, says that there is a purposeful life,
a mission for us, should we choose to accept it. The line, as you probably know, is borrowed
from the TV series, Mission Impossible. The agents played the tape (yes, remember
that old technology?) and learned where they were going, what was expected, and
again all odds beat the forces of evil. It
was dramatic, but fantasy.
For us, Christ-follower, there is the call to a Mission Possible.
“Go as agents of my rule and authority,” Jesus says. "When
Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive
out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom
of God and to heal the sick." (Luke 9:1-2, NIV) Was that just for those men, that time? So
many seem to think so. An anemic kind of Christianity, built around “bless me,
Lord” prayers keeps millions of Christians blind to their true destiny. Jesus
did not save us from sin to sit us on the sidelines of life, letting week after
week just happen, while we desperately hang on waiting for another little
blessing. He calls us to deal with
the world around, one person at a time, loving others, living holy lives, making
His kingdom rule evident. Before He returned to Father, He gave this mission
- "Go out and train everyone you
meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the
threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the
practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day
after day after day, right up to the end of the age." (Matthew
28:19-20, The Message)
The impossibility of that mission overwhelms us unless we
follow up that commission with His assurance: "…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you
will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts
1:8, NLT) Those first disciples embraced the mission, waited for the Spirit in
prayer, and then went out – without money, without universities, without large
organizations – and changed the world. And Christians who hear the Call, have done
the same for 2,000 years.
Will we accept the
mission? You do not have go to the other side of the globe, enter the
priesthood, or take a vow of poverty. The kingdom call starts where we are, in our
homes, our families, our town, our church. He may take us elsewhere, but not
until we start living “Kingdom lives” today!
Perhaps you are thinking, “Jerry needs to dial it back a
bit. Life’s just not like that. We have mortgages to pay, home to maintain, multiple
responsibilities in life.” That is true but life is more, Jesus said, than our
next meal and the clothes we put on. We are first His agents, eternal beings
called to the work of the Spirit. “Yes, Jerry, that is what we pay you to do!” I am thankful to serve the Lord and His
church as a pastor. However, we are all
called, all serve, all represent Him in the world. You are no less important
to His work than I am.
Today, look for the opportunities to love, to
encourage, to speak truth about the value of each and every person to God
Himself.
Pray! Pray again! And then, pray some more!
Make your prayers about something other than “gimme more stuff!”
Pray! Pray again! And then, pray some more!
Make your prayers about something other than “gimme more stuff!”
Ask to be sent to someone who needs to know that God cares.
Ask for courage to stand alongside of somebody discarded as too wrecked by
others. Cry for those who are in pain, intercede
for those who are trapped by sin. Offer yourself to Him. When we do these things, becoming part of the
answer to our prayers by matching our words with actions of faith, things do change;
in us and around us.
Pause for a moment with one of my favorite words from Paul,
a man who was used by God to do things he could never have imagined himself
doing. This is the mission should you choose to accept it! Live "according
to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him
and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. … Now
to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians
3:11-12, 20-21, NIV)
Immeasurably more!
He can do it, with you. Will you let Him?
_______________
(worship the majestic God of life with this song )
God of creation
There at the start
before the beginning of time
With no point of
ref'rence
You spoke to the dark
And fleshed out the
wonder of light
And as You speak
A hundred billion
galaxies are born
In the vapour of Your
breath the planets form
If the stars were made
to worship so will I
I can see Your heart
in ev'rything You've made
Ev'ry burning star a
signal fire of grace
If creation sings Your
praises so will I
God of Your promise
You don't speak in
vain no syllable empty or void
For once You have
spoken
All nature and science
Follow the sound of
Your voice
And as You speak
A hundred billion
creatures catch Your breath
Evolving in pursuit of
what You said
If it all reveals Your
nature so will I
I can see Your heart
in ev'rything You say
Ev'ry painted sky a
canvas of Your grace
If creation still
obeys You so will I
So will I
So will I
If the stars were made
to worship so will I
If the mountains bow
in rev'rence so will I
If the oceans roar
Your greatness so will I
For if ev'rything
exists to lift You high so will I
If the wind goes where
You send it so will I
If the rocks cry out
in silence so will I
If the sum of all our
praises still falls shy
Then we'll sing again
a hundred billion times
God of salvation
You chased down my
heart
Through all of my
failure and pride
On a hill You created
the light of the world
Abandoned in darkness
to die
And as You speak
A hundred billion
failures disappear
Where You lost Your
life so I could find it here
If You left the grave
behind You so will I
I can see Your heart
in ev'rything You've done
Ev'ry part designed in
a work of art called love
If You gladly chose
surrender so will I
I can see Your heart
eight billion diff'rent ways
Ev'ry precious one a
child You died to save
If You gave Your life
to love them so will I
Like You would again a
hundred billion times
But what measure could
amount to Your desire
You're the One who
never leaves the one behind
Benjamin Hastings | Joel Houston | Michael Fatkin
© 2017 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG
Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055
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