Dear sisters and brothers,
I am not a patient man. More and more i am realizing that i am far from being patient, at all. I find that i, in fact, am impatient. I want results now. And if/when i do not experience/see those results, i find that i often give up or move on. For example, in 2007, after witnessing the results of not caring for our bodies while a chaplain at Grandview Hospital, i chose to get busy working out. I ran. I elipticalled. I biked. And i lifted. I did this from August to December, expecting to be ready to wow all the people with the huge biceps and chiseled six pack i had for a stomach.
It didn't play out like that. Though i had lost weight, nearly twenty pounds, i still had a long ways to go. After our vacation in January, i quit. I think, in my mind, i told myself if i hadnt seen the results already, i would never see them, so i quit. And guess what? The weight and gut returned. Note to all who actually read this: I went from a keg for a stomach to a pony keg, which is a good move, but i desired a six pack, which as stated above, i never experienced. So i quit.
Now every six months or so, i return to the ymca for a few months, promising to stick it out. After a few months, with little results, i find other things to do. The idea of waiting seems foreign and unlikely for me.
And yet, as i read Jesus' words in Matthew 13, i get the sense that is exactly what i should be doing. I should persevere and keep working hard, and eventually, EVENTUALLY, the fruit will come to bear, and i will experience the goals i seek. But if i continue to give up and continue to seek instant results, well i can expect to never get close to where i want and need to be.
This holds true for the church as well. We have to extend Jesus' love to any and all who grace our presence, without the expectation that the reaching out will produce instant fruit. The seeds of love we share and plant today will, eventually, produce fruit. We might not experience it, but who cares? We aren't in the business of collecting trophies; we are in the ministry of touching lives, healing souls, and loving the broken, unlovable, and forgotten. It is a thankless job, at first site, but seventeen years down the road someone might come up to us and say, "You know that one day when you just showered me with love, when you gave me that coat from your clothes closet, when you allowed me to collect food from your pantry, when you repaired my house, or when you visited me in the slums, remember that?"
We will say yes.
Their response, "well that huge act of love helped me get where i am today: a minister building churches and ending poverty in the name of Jesus, all because you did what you didn't have to. You cared for me. I am eternally thankful."
That is the wheat we seek, and it takes time. Something i am still learning, and something i hope we can continue to learn, together. Instant results are shallow and often whither away like the tree that sprouts in our gutters. But seeds planted that are given time and love to nurture, grow, and mature, well they turn into that strong oak we let our kids, grandkids, and great grandkids climb. So lets build trees and let future generations enjoy the fruit of our ministry. Amen.
Shalom,
jerry
Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Christ Jesus. Sometimes an encouraging word to one turns out to be an encouragement that helps all. It can encourage others to think things through and get involved. When Jesus stated in His word that He would hide His Word in our hearts.....He never intended to for it to just lay there....it was to mature us by being rooted in our heart through love, that we may, by the renewing of our minds, make use and purpose of all things for the purpose and glory our Lord in our lives outwardly. Not to be boxed up and put into storage, even collectively in storage as in a warehouse. Sadly some churches are acting in this role, or empowering its member to act in this manner – (a warehouse, a repository, for the knowledge of God’s word whereas all are hearers but rarely do people venture out to fulfill the gospel message of reconciliation to every nation, kindred, tribe and tongue) I am praying for the Holy Spirit to move individuals and His institutions in these matters. We have not because we ask not.....my motives are for the Kingdom of Heaven to be manifest here. Come Holy Spirit and Angelic host, do your work in the minds of God’s people. The hearts are full, now convince the minds to act accordingly; not just in a one way relationship of tolerance and robotic obedience to the law, but for giving hope to a lost generation who Satan has attempted to plunged into a pit of vipers and other harm causing predators of our days.
ReplyDeleteSatan seeks to forever separate us from the love of the Father. Today, I ask you Holy Spirit come and perform your task in all those who are seeking. That you strengthen individuals, families, and even the Churches for growth in their respective missions. Currently there is not much difference between night and day or the church and the world. Those individuals, families and churches who claim to know you should not be just like the rest of the world. Bring to life that which is hidden. Not that it is for show to the rest of the world, but moreover to show the reality of days, to demonstrate the calling to your will. To not only live toward you in good thoughts, but to live as a bright shining light to the world. We ARE called NOT to live in darkness but in LIGHT; no more in darkness, the light of truth has made it from the feelings of my heart and feel good sermons to my working head. God made us in His image, completely. From our emotions to our ability to process information. To sit back while the pastor does all the work is not following Christ.
The blinders are now removed. Myself, the old man is no longer, but to He whom I have given my life now resides in me, has permitted the sight, the health, and the wealth for a hurting world to see and partake. Praise be to you my Father. We accept the peace that passes all understanding AS we offer our praise of thanksgiving in faith, rejoicing always so that Satan himself will have to flee and do so in a hurry. The Kingdom of God IS here. The WILL of your Word be made complete not only in our hearts but also in our minds; not only in our private relationship to you but also our public relationship to the world. For what else is our purpose but to bring the harvest to you Lord. The harvest is ready but the workers are few.
ReplyDeleteDoesn’t matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done, Jesus paid the price for you. Do you know him? If you have not invited Him into your life, I will ask you to invite Him in now. He is so ready to reclaim you. He already paid the bill If He is at the door of your heart, please let him in. To those who are already have the Lord in your hearts, I beg you to let Him control your mind also. Let your life be different, let it stand for something. Yes it takes time, but it also take no excuses and only one need be taken hostage. That one is in the enemy camp, His name is Satan. Bind Him up and do not make excuses.
We ask God to judge us on our intentions while we judge others on their actions. Let us judge with mercy in mind as we consider the Lord’s prayer. Forgive us and we forgive others. Let us live in peace by establishing not only our need for mercy and grace, but our duty, our privilege in Christ and our lives given to God’s glory. Providing freedom to others by our God given ability to do the same in which we are all called in the ministry of reconciliation. Be merciful, graceful and thankful. In gentleness and kindness. Stand up to evil and take your place at the table. Those who work will eat. Those who just play the part are merely acting out a play. If you have been in church for years and have acted but never committed, I invite you also to really find the truth that only comes from a personal relationship. His salvation is offered to all mankind but it is not mankind’s collective, it is His. He meets us all personally, and can bring you into a new day rejoicing if you will just let Him. No more pretending, He wants you.
Amen
Tom Andrews 3-3-11