He Said Go

The leading of the Holy Spirit. Many people have difficulty with this concept, but I don't think it needs to be a real problem for us as believers. Matthew 26:18 - 19 gives us some insight into this idea of obedience to Christ. Jesus is preparing for His last moments and sends His disciples on an errand. They asked for details and scripture says "He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him. . .", so the disciples did as Jesus directed them."

Not much direction there. Go into the city to a certain man. No name, no address, just a mandate to go. So the disciples did as Jesus directed them. I wonder how long they debated over what Jesus was thinking. I wonder if any of them wondered what God's will for their life might be. I wonder if any of them were hesitant to go in search of the "certain man." What if they got the wrong man? What if the man said no? What if, what if, what if? Scripture says they, collectively all, did as Jesus directed them. They just went. When was the last time I just went? No questions asked. When was the last time you just went when God said to go. No questions asked, just put one foot in front of the other and walk in faith.

How many believers would, as Abraham did, pack everything and head for parts unknown, trusting God to guide along the way, without benefit of a final GPS destination? I wonder if Abraham was uncomfortable without his one year, three year, and five year plans? I wonder how Noah felt, stepping out in faith, building a boat when rain was unheard of. I am sure that many of his contemporaries called him a nut, ridiculing him for stepping outside the cultural norms of the day. But Noah was called by God to do as He, God, directed, and He did it. For years. No long term plan in sight, just the leading of the God of the universe. The list could go on, and on, and on. Mena and women throughout history have done as they were directed, called by the Spirit of God, usually one step at a time, and radically changed the course of history.

I don't know about you, but I want to walk in that space, so in tune with the voice of the Holy Spirit, that I would immediately be able to identify that "certain man" that God is sending me to. I want to trust God so fully that it will no longer seem unusual to me to step into the future, or make course corrections in my life, without a plan.

Maybe, just maybe, in our uber-planned society, where knowledge is king, we have forgotten the sheer joy and power of spontaneity. It might behoove us to take a step back and look at the lives of those throughout history who have heard the voice of God, stepped out in faith, and changed the course of human history. What inspired them, where did their courage come from, were they afraid? I wonder.

In the meanwhile, I want to truly live as the first disciples did, right here and right now. He, Jesus, said, "Go," and they went!

Face-to-face,
Cindy

How Can I Serve You?

Do you ever think about asking others, "How can I serve you?" Maybe if that's what you do for a living. Serve, I mean. Food and other stuff. But what would happen if all of us (yes, that means you and me) who call ourselves Christ followers would start our conversations with that question? What kind of impact would we make in a lost and dying world?

Matthew 20:28 says, "...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." That is the ultimate walking out of the question, "How can I serve you?" Ponder that for a bit. As He served, He "gave" His life. He willingly laid it down, knowing that many would reject His gift, and consequently His life, but He gave anyway.

We are called to be more like Him as we move along our journey of faith. But are those nice words that we speak in our Christian-ese language, saying the appropriate things for the appropriate moment, so that all things in our lives can appear just so? What is God calling us to do, calling me to do, calling you to do, that will require us to lay down our lives for Him? Are we really willing to "give" our lives as a ransom for many, even if it means laying down our comforts, our preconceived notions, our agendas, and maybe even "our" dreams, in order to help others along their paths toward Christ. I might even be willing to give my life for those I love, willing to put myself out for those in my inner circle, but am I excited about putting myself aside, paying a price (that's what ransom really means), for the purpose of helping others find freedom?

So, as I think about the question, "How can I serve you?" in this light, does that change my willingness to be obedient. As you ponder that thought, are you willing to be obedient and give your life, all of it, for the freedom of others?

What would happen if we were to make a conscious decision to ask every person we come in contact with, "How can I serve you?", and mean it?

Face-to-face,
Cindy