Why is following Jesus so difficult? Why is "ministry" - serving others for the sake of Jesus, because Jesus calls us to do so - why is that so tough?
I've been thinking about this over the past few days...more like trying not to complain about it to my wife, daughter, fellow church workers, and anybody else who will listen. I told our Sunday worship team this week my two biggest needs - Jesus and coffee. Jesus, because I'm a sinner. Coffee, because I'm exhausted.
There are a ton of different facets to the answer, but here are two that I'm seeing.
1. I'm a creature, not the Creator. I need the Creator. It's tough to humble me, remind me of Him, and drive me to Him.
Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." (Lk. 18:17) He said this while they were bringing even infants to Him (18:15). We need to receive God's rule like an infant - like we're helpless and totally dependent upon Him. That's one reason serving people - serving them to get to their heart and see Jesus transform them (and me) - is so difficult; it's hard for me to be completely dependent on Jesus. It's hard for me to trust Him with everything and work diligently with the strength He provides. It's like I have to live by faith and not by sight, or something...
2. I often feel entitled to better, but I live in the blessings of my Lord.
In Life Group, we listened to the story about the two sons. The younger takes his portion of his dad's inheritance (who is still living), and squanders it. When he comes back, his dad throws a great party for him, while the older brother - who lived there faithfully while the younger son "lived it up". The older brother is totally incensed that he never had a party like this for him.
The Lord made two new connections in my mind tonight: the first is that the father's love for his sons didn't rest on their obedience or lack thereof. The younger son appreciated the love more because he knew he didn't deserve it. The older son thought he deserved his father's love - and perhaps even more. I was convicted that often I overlook the blessings of God's presence for tokens of His providence. I want His stuff, but not Him; and I can't help but think that was at least part of the older brother's problem (albeit probably not the main one Jesus focuses on here...).
The second connection is that Jesus tells the story of the lost sheep and the lost coin before this story probably to "lure" the Pharisees into the conversation. When He was talking about shepherds, sheep, women, and coins, everybody was probably happy and agreeing. When He started talking about the scandalous love of a father for a jacked-up, gone-wrong son, everybody's bristles start to stand up. At least, that seemed to be the flow of emotion for our group as we listened to the stories and reacted to them. One guy in our group asked, "Why would sheep compare themselves to other sheep? Why would we compare ourselves to another person?" Sure, we could justify our reasons, but the flow of the stories seems to drive that point home to my heart - before God, we are sinful creatures, redeemed by the blood of Jesus on the cross. All other differences find a universal sameness here - that if we are saved, it is only through the work of the Storyteller in this passage, Jesus, and only by the love of the Father.
Let me pray for us (my family, my church, and whoever you are reading this):
Lord, guide your truth ever deeper into our hearts. Make your grace real. Make your steadfast love and mercy burn with joy in our hearts. Turn your glorious grace loose on our cities through us, that all may praise You. Let us rest in Your cross, and let us work by Your strength. Come quickly Lord Jesus, and let us be faithful until Your coming. May it be.
No comments:
Post a Comment