Readings for today: Luke 10, John 10, 11:1-54
I often tell people “I have the easiest job in the world. I simply listen to God and tell others what He tells me.” I know it’s not quite that simple. Nor is it quite that easy. I spend a lot of time in prayer, study, and self-reflection. I pray because I know unless the Lord speaks, all my words will be in vain. I study God’s Word because no one wants or needs to hear Doug’s opinions. I self-reflect in an effort to screen out any personal agendas. Am I always successful? No. Have I gotten better over the years through daily practice? Absolutely. Do I still have a long way to go? Without a doubt. Now I understand that I’m a pastor. I spend my days drinking coffee and offering spiritual counsel to those I love and serve. I spend my Sundays in a pulpit preaching God’s Word. I am blessed to travel internationally to teach others to do the same. But I don’t think listening to God and sharing with others what He tells me is something only pastors should do. I think it’s a spiritual practice for all Christians in every vocation and every location.
Perhaps that’s why I love these words from Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. “The one who listens to you listens to me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” (Luke 10:16 NET) Jesus is sending His followers out two by two into towns and villages all over the countryside to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God. They aren’t to carry any bags nor take any money with them but instead rely on the grace of strangers. People of peace they will meet along the way who will offer them hospitality. Some will receive them. Some will reject them. The disciples are not to let any of that get them down. They do not represent themselves. They do not offer their own wisdom. They must put aside any personal agendas. They are simply to trust what Jesus has taught them and what He has told them and they are to do all they can to share it with others.
When Jesus looks out on the world today, He sees a ripe harvest field. He sees men and women who are like lost sheep without a shepherd. He sees so much pain and heartbreak and suffering. He sees so much evil and injustice and violence and death. What’s His answer? What is He doing to address these things? These are questions I often get and I always turn them back around on the person who asks me. What’s your answer? What are you doing? The reality, friends, is that Jesus is sending us! His plan from the beginning of creation has been to work through the creature He made in His own image to bring His message of good news to the world! So make sure to spend time every day listening to Jesus. Make sure to spend time every day studying God’s Word. Make sure to spend time every day asking the Holy Spirit to help you set aside every personal agenda. And then share with others what you have received. Let me leave you with these famous words from Richard Halverson, former chaplain of the US Senate, “You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you there. Wherever you are, God has put you there. He has a purpose in your being there. Christ, who indwells in you, has something He wants to say and do through you, wherever you are. Believe this, and go in His grace, and love and power.”
Readings for tomorrow: Luke 12, 13:1-30