Following at a Distance is still Following

Throughout the Gospels, people responded to Jesus in a variety of ways.  So often we're concerned about who's IN and who's OUT, but today I want to propose the thought of getting comfortable with letting people follow at a distance, because 

...following at a distance is still following!

We do this today on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram... follow people we're interested in at a distance.  If you're one who posts content on social media, you quickly learn that there are people from all over the world who follow (hey, take a moment to type the name of your town, state, or country into the comments section).

Let's take Nicodemus as an example.  He's mentioned by name in only 5 verses of John's Gospel.  Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council.  We first meeting him as he comes to Jesus under the cover of night in Jerusalem to have a conversation, having recognized that Jesus has come from God, yet Nicodemus is not fully understanding what Jesus is ushering in.

Nicodemus has been paying attention and following at a safe distance

Some are not yet ready to follow closely,
some are afraid,
some have questions,
some have past hurt or harm to be reconciled,
and some have misunderstandings to work through...

When someone is trying to follow, let us not be hasty!

Nicodemus shows up again in Mark 7 after Jesus has been teaching in the temple courts.  The Pharisees were rule followers, focused on strict obedience to the law.  A dispute erupts as the crowd tries to determine who Jesus is.  Nicodemus is now asking questions that challenge the prevailing thinking.

Life can be like a maze!  

Sometimes people begin to follow from the middle of a mixed-up and confusing journey. Rather than trying to determine who's IN or who's OUT, Mission, Jesus style invites us to notice who is trying to follow Jesus. Sometimes it's the most unlikely people, like Nicodemus, who are trying to figure it out at a distance, and yet FOLLOWING.  

Jesus never told Nicodemus he was OUT
Jesus just kept helping him know how to follow.

Our last encounter with Nicodemus is after the crucifixion when those that had been following at a distance began to come forward.  We also meet a man named Joseph of Arimathea, who had also been following Jesus from a distance.

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.  JOHN 19:38-40 

This was not a high-risk endeavor and took much courage,

but they had followed long enough to fully TRUST Jesus with their lives!

I believe that living in a rhythm of mission, Jesus style, is to not be concerned with who's IN or who's OUT, but live in ways that just point people to Jesus, showing them how to follow.

Let the message of Christ dwell in you richly, be generous in sowing gospel seeds, and let go of the expected outcomes to let the Spirit of God do its work!

In the Comments section, tell me where you're from and HOW you do this!  Thanks!!!

  

Letting Go of Expected Outcomes

I'm still contemplating the Parable of the Sower and the thought of Sowing Kingdom Seeds.  Later in the book of Mark is the Parable of the Growing Seed:

Jesus also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.  All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.  As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”  MARK 4:26-29

Meadow flowers might serve well as an illustration.  Imagine the flowers as the result of gospel seeds that have been sown.  If you've every walked through a meadow, you know that up close it's a jumbled mess of flowers and grasses and weeds, but from a distance, it's a gorgeous array of flowers.  

There is a certain amount of chaos that exists.

All of the plants grow and deposit seed.  The next cycle begins...  Some flowers are more generous in their seed production, and therefore become the predominate variety in the meadow.  Although the meadow is not formally tended by a gardener, the seed still falls and the cycle still continues.  

A closer look reveals that there are several varieties of
plants that produce seed. Each grows to its full potential
and they don't discriminate where the seed falls.

Isn't this what the Lord has called each one of His children to do?  When we let the message of Christ dwell in us richly, it comes out of us naturally, just like the seeds of the flowers in the meadow.  
In the midst of recent tragedy, see how one man acted, prayed, and  trusted the Lord with the outcome, which was captured by someone and picked up by new teams so this gospel seed has been scattered far and wide!

It's unlikely that he will ever know the outcome of many of those seeds,

but that didn't stop him from sowing the word.  Nike's slogan comes to mind...

Just do it!

Dwelling Richly

After posting "Sowing Kingdom Seeds," I had the phrase,"...and let the word of Christ dwell in you richly," thick in my mind... so here is the train of thought that came together:
 
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  JOHN 1:1

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  JOHN 1:14

To dwell... is to tent or encamp,
to occupy, or specifically to reside.

When you take up residence in a house, apartment, condo - - you make it your own.  You organize and decorate it in such a way that it reflects who you are.  

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  COLOSSIANS 3:15-17

Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly...

When reading Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby a few years ago,
he posed a couple contrasts that really made me think... 

Believing IN God - - AND - - Believing God

Knowing ABOUT God - - AND - - Knowing God

In reading the Parable of the Sower (Mark 1-20), I was struck by the simplicity...The farmer sows the Word and some seed fell on good soil were people who heard the word, accepted it, and produced a crop, some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.  

We each have only one live to be lived.

Is there room in your life for the Word of Christ to dwell richly?

Are you taking in God's grace in His Word each day
SO THAT you can sow it into the lives of others?

Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly...

Sowing Kingdom Seeds

Some months ago I heard the term "gospel fluency" for the first time.  I haven't been able to get it out of my mind!  How can we speak the language of the Kingdom if we're not fluent in it?

How can someone learn a language
if they never actually heard it?

Jesus tells this parable:  
Listen! 
A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn't have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”  MARK 4:3-8

The farmer scatters lots of seed, knowing that some will be eaten, some will wither and die, some will get choked out and some will grow to produce a crop.  These circumstances don't hinder him from casting lots of seed!

Sharing the Good News of the Kingdom with others is about 

sowing the Word of God generously and lovingly into their hearts.

Jesus explains the parable in this way:
The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”  MARK 4:14-20

Speaking ABOUT the Word is not the same
as actually speaking the Word.

Think of it like learning a foreign language... at first, it is totally unfamiliar and doesn't make any sense.  The language of God's Kingdom is the same. It often doesn't make sense to someone when they first begin to hear it.    

But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?”  So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.  ROMANS 10:16-17

These words that Paul wrote to Timothy come to mind:
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.  2 TIMOTHY 4:2

Always share the Word with love.
The more it is heard,
the more familiar it becomes.

We know there are seasons when a crop will not grow.  However, the Lord asks us to share His Word, planting it withing the human heart and trusting Him alone for the outcome.  As a person hears the Word (the language of the Kingdom), and watch how it is lived out among the people of God, it begins to penetrate the soil in one's heart.  

But... once it takes root... it produces a harvest beyond measure!

Take in the Word personally everyday!

And sow "the Word of God" into the hearts of others,
generously and lovingly - - everyday!

Willing Participation

Something recently struck me at the end of the book of Exodus - - in the Lord's instructions to Moses for collecting the materials to construct the Tabernacle:

“This is what the Lord has commanded:  From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering... EXODUS 35:4-9

How well the Lord know us! He knows that His people need a visible sign of His presence, so he instructs

...everyone who is willing...

to bring the necessary items as an offering to the Lord.

In building the Tabernacle, the Lord is making Himself
visible to the nation of Israel and the nations around them.

  

The Lord is still working through a coalition of the willing!

Lord is still making himself visible to all people through His People, the church, those who are following Him - - listening to His voice - - and doing what He asks.  The way the Lord becomes visible happens through those who know Him - - Loving Him as they love and serve other people.  It's simple, though not always easy!

Are you among the willing?

Personal, Not Private

It's the day after Easter, the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and I'm reflecting on the responses to Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection as they are recorded in the Gospels.  This question comes to mind:

What is your response to the resurrection? 

Are you running to tell others like the women?  MATTHEW 28:8
Have you witnessed the events, yet up to this point failed to recognize the person of Jesus, like the two men walking along the road to Emmaus?  LUKE 24:13-35
Do you need a bit more evidence like Thomas?  JOHN 20:24-29

The amazing thing is that Jesus meets each person in the way that they need to be met!

For Mary, it only takes him speaking her name.  JOHN 20:16
For the men walking to Emmaus it was a meal and Jesus' action of taking bread, giving thanks and breaking it that opened their eyes. LUKE 24:30
For Thomas, Jesus allowed him to touch his wounds. JOHN 20:27

Immediately following the account with Thomas, John writes:  Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. JOHN 20:30-31

While Jesus meets us each personally, we're not meant to hold this privately.  

Jesus activity in our lives is for us, AND for others.  The disciples could have kept the message to themselves, but they told someone, who told someone, and so on... in such a way that you have, or are now hearing this message.   

Introducing people to the one who created them and loves them is pure joy!

If you find this to be challenging, I encourage you to spend more time with Jesus.  Read the gospels and begin paying attention to the places He shows up in your life.  My prayer is, just like the disciples, that one day you cannot help speaking about what you have seen and heard.

It is also my prayer as you come to know the One who created you, who loves you, who cares and provides for you, and who wants you to have life in his name.  

I also pray that you will become better prepared to share the love that Jesus poured out on the cross with other people who may not already know the love God has for them!

Jesus has risen and is calling you to share this Good News!

A Parting Example

When I think of a portrayal of mission, Jesus style, it is Maundy Thursday that stands out. During the Passover meal, Jesus demonstrated the two greatest commandments, leaving his disciples a parting example to live by: 

1. Remember what he has done - - Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, strength and soul
2. Serve other people as he did - - Love your neighbors as yourselves

Jesus knew the time had come to do the hardest part of the work he had been given.  During this last meal with His disciples, he demonstrated how they were to live as ongoing examples. This also serves us today! 

The evening meal was in progress...Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;
...so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with a towel that was wrapped around him. 

Later he said to them: "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feed.  I have set for you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  JOHN 132A, 3-5, 14-15

Jesus already knew he had been betrayed.

He had been preparing the disciples all along

for his parting, and now the time had come.

     While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and give it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
     Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."  MATTHEW 26:26-28

Jesus' life, death, and resurrection ushered forgiveness into the world.  This final meal is a summary of how we are to live... giving thanks, offering forgiveness, serving one another... 

Jesus, the Messiah, set the example - - and He calls us to live as He did.

What would it look like if you and I lived in the absolute confidence

that we have come from God and are returning to God?

None of this is possible unless we remember!

Remember by communing with God's people - - receiving His love and forgiveness.
Remember by serving others with the same love He did.
Remember by giving thanks in all circumstances, even difficult ones,
                   ...they are the best opportunity to show the loving nature of the Father.
Remember by offering forgiveness to those who can't yet understand this kind of love.
                      While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Remember that Jesus only asks us to live out that which he lived first as our example!

Take a few minutes to worship and give thanks!