Now the eleven disciples went to
Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped
him, but some doubted. And Jesus
came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has
been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And
behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20
Lord, I was struck
recently with a metaphor as a group of us assisted an elderly lady in moving apartments.
When I arrived on site, there was complete chaos in the room: People moving
about; boxes and items piled and scattered throughout her domicile; some were leading
and others following in many different directions at once.
In the middle of the
congested space stood the matron, looking confused, a bit disoriented and at
the same time amazed by all the activity passing her by. “I wish there was
something I could do,” I heard her one time exclaim.
I tried to
speak some words of comfort to her, but that is when the picture hit me: Are we not all standing in the middle of our
personal room; watching the world fly by us; asking, what am I to do?
I think of my country, one
blessed in amazing ways. I’m given freedoms and welfare far beyond the
understanding of most of the world’s population. Suddenly my way of life is
under scrutiny, even attack. I am told I must change. I find myself looking
confused, a bit disoriented and at the same time amazed by all the activity
passing me by. “I wish there was something I could do,” I hear myself say.
I think of Your church,
Jesus. We are so comfortable in our private space that we call, Sanctuary. Suddenly the world is
changing quickly around us, but we have been too introspective to notice or
care. Now we are commanded by You to move (Matthew 28:19-20) and we have no
idea what we are to do in order to obey.
And I wonder if it is not
just that I don’t know what to do. I’m as concerned that I may do something which
will obstruct Your plan; I might even do something I’m not supposed to
and therefore I freeze in fear and doubt. Perhaps Matthew 28:17 is more
relevant to me than I care to admit.
Lord, I want so much to move, but not by my
own desire or fears. I realize now that I want to be moved by You. To do
that, I need to know how to hear You, how to follow Your called-out directions.
I need to study fully and pray over the riches of the commandments and
teachings I have already been given in the treasure chest I know as Scripture. Understanding
does not come simply from spontaneous desire, nor should action be a blind response
of despair.
The presence of Your
Spirit is demonstrated not in the chaos now closing in, but in Your commission,
encouraging us to break through. The answer to the question, “What am I to do?”
is the same as it has always been. You remind me that it is my response to your
command that is more important.
Master, I ask for myself,
for my homeland and for my spiritual family, that You give us fresh Spiritual
inspiration. Help us hear Your Word and continue to teach us how to respond to
You, not with a wish, but with prayerful
action; a reborn-church response to Your call of service. And as always, I
pray: Father, Your will be done. Jesus, come quickly. Holy Spirit, strengthen us.
What to do? There is no
doubt: Believe and obey; and teach others by Your example within me, to do the
same.
Shalom,
Mark C.
