“In America, you can be a success as a (insert title here) and a failure as an apprentice of Jesus.”
What a sobering statement.
Have you ever found yourself doing something that you’re not totally crazy about and then wonder how you got wrapped up in it in the first place?
I know I have. Too many times, I’ve found myself stressing out about a deadline, enrolled in an assignment I don’t truly want to do, or mindlessly participating in something that leaves me drained by the end. And when I finally step back and ask God “why?”, His answer is simple.
“I never told you to go do that.”
Yikes. The sudden realization that I hadn’t even considered His heart, thoughts or direction on even the tiniest matter and what’d been causing these issues, is what propelled me into wanting to live the life He has for me. An intentional one. More importantly, a prayerful one.
I lost so much time in the past.. well, I spent so much time foolishly running around, going about my life, doing things my way and how I wanted. I was like a feather being blown in whichever way the wind wanted. Absolutely no direction, aimlessly, mindlessly, with out any intention.
In the secular world, it can be easy to chase after anything that makes us feel good. Western culture praises, GLORIFIES busyness. It calculates our value and identity based on how much or how little we are doing. The titles, degrees, accolades, finances, status, likes, hobbies, accomplishments- this is the “odometer” that decides one's level of success.
As believers, we've often mistakenly projected our own ideas of what good spirituality looks like, onto our brothers and sisters and Christ. As a result, there is now an ungodly guilt that says that if our days aren’t filled to the brim with serving in that ministry, volunteering for that event, needing to travel to foreign areas to be able to share the gospel well, or singing on the worship team, we are not enough.
I’d like to have us take a step back and look to Jesus and the example that he left for us while he was here.
We know that the Great Commission is what he charged us all, as believers, with and we must certainly not relent in obeying.
But before getting into the doing portion, it is important to take note of the order of his priorities.
"Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.”
Mark 3:13-14
Did you catch it?
He appointed them that they might be with him first and then he sent them out.
Is it possible that he wanted them to spend time with him first, before going out, so that they might know where he wanted them to go?
Am I signing up for this activity because I believe it is good and noble or because I have gone to God in prayer and now know this is where the Lord wants me?
Let us learn to be still before our Father, to spend time with Him, to truly seek to know what He wants for us, how He wants us to evangelize, how He wants us to fill our time and to know that we are because He is.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
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