This morning I had a great time sharing Psalm 119:57-64 with a group of students at the middle school located next to our church. When I was done, they began asking me questions about the Bible and I am not just talking about the easy ones, either. They wanted to understand some hard things.
I love to read. I love to think. I love it when those two things collide in God's revelation to us in the written word. Yet I sense in myself and in others a reluctance to wrestle with things that are difficult, unnerving, or challenging in the text. When I have been tempted to gloss over these things in the past, I have been reminded of the story of Jacob and his midnight wrestling match with God.
Jacob didn't stand a chance. The wrestling match wasn't so that God could show His power or superiority. No, the wrestling match was for Jacob, and in some ways, more importantly for us. We and Jacob both learn from the struggle.
I am not suggesting that this passage, Genesis 32:22-32, is telling us that we have to struggle with Scripture. However, I believe that the experience Jacob had is in a small way our experience as we wrestle with difficult and challenging texts of Scripture. We must be diligent to grab hold and not let go until God reveals Himself through the word.
We are finite beings seeking to know, love, and understand an infinite being. The very reality of the situation should cause us to expect some difficulty. Yet it is when the match is over and our eyes have been opened that we find our faith strengthened, our joy bolstered, and our perseverance enhanced.
In my last post, I reflected on the theme of God's sovereignty in the first four chapters of Daniel. This is one of the concepts I think we often know, but the implications escape us. Yet as we seek to understand scripture we must seek both meaning and application. Application in many cases may be understanding how a bedrock truth should effect the way we think about common areas of our lives as followers of Christ. For example, as I was reading these chapters, I felt that there are some powerful implications for missions found in Daniel's presentation of God's sovereignty.
The fact that God is sovereign over every nation, means that He is the rightful King of all peoples. He is the King of those who recognize Him and He is King of those who have never heard of Him. As I have heard it said, He is not merely a tribal deity. He is the one and only God of the Universe. The proper response of His subjects is humble and joyful submission to His loving and gracious rule. In fact, this is what Daniel pleaded with Nebuchadnezzar to do:
"Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity." Daniel 4:27
True missions is not a mere making of converts. Missions is calling rebellious citizens to the King's palace that they might experience and live in the fullness of life and joy found in Him.
This same idea hit me this summer as I attended the World Changers project in Savannah. I was praying with Carrie and the summer staff one night when Keyla, who is from Puerto Rico, began to pray in Spanish. As she was praying, God showed me a blindness I didn't realize I had. I knew He was God over the earth. At that time, He reminded me that when I go on mission, I am not introducing them to a foreign King, I am telling them of their God. He already is God of the nations whether they know Him or serve Him. My role is to be an ambassador of the King and call them to recognize Him.
"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20
In last week's post, I looked at the struggle found in making the decision as to whether or not you should go on mission (read either short-term or long term) when you are being counseled not to go by people who genuinely care about you. Serving as a student pastor, I have face this on several occasions. Parents who are committed to Christ are faced with a difficult decision when their child wants to go and serve in a distant place. Some places that even brought somewhat of a danger.
All believers are called to be on mission in the context in which God has placed them (Matthew 28:18-20, Colossians 4:5-6, 1 Corinthians 7:21-24). Not everyone is called to go and be a part of every opportunity (3 John 5-8). We must see to make our decisions based on direction from Scripture and from much prayer. In that light there are a few questions that I believe are good for us to ask if we find ourselves in this kind of situation.
1. Are you under your parent's authority?
Our four-year old has memorized three verses of scripture. One of them is "Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right." Paul goes on to instruct children that honoring their father and mother was the first commandment with a promise. Parents have been given the responsibility and privilege by God to teach and raise their children in a way that they would know and love God with all they are. This would include being faithful to the call He has placed on their lives.
The key to this passage, especially as it relates to our topic, is the phrase "in the Lord." Parents must not stop their children from being faith out of sheer worry or fear. To do so is to ignore Paul's admonition to fathers in to "not provoke their children to anger." At the same time, those under their parent's authority must not ignore their parents direction simply because they "really, really, really want to go!"
When this type of situation comes, parents and child should spend time together talking through concerns and desires and praying earnestly together. Both sides must be willing and open to God changing their perspective and be willing to submit to his leadership. In the end, parents must seek God's leadership and make the decision they believe is what God would have them do, even if this is unpopular. If a parent has made that decision, trust that God will honor your desire to serve and open a door that both you and your parents will see as a prefect opportunity.
2. Is this a good idea or God's idea?
A desire to share the Gospel is a good thing. Period. Yet there are times when we desire to go one direction when God would have us to go in another direction. In Acts 16:6-7, Paul and his companions are stopped from going into two different regions by the Spirit. Upon first reading, this may seem somewhat strange to us. Why did God stop them from going and spreading the Good News? We find the answer in verses 9-10. God wanted them to go to Macedonia, so he sent Paul a vision.
Most of the time, God does not speak to us in visions. Yet he does use His Word and His church. It may be that God is using those who are urging you not to go as a means of redirecting your focus and energy. If their counsel is both biblical and saturated with a desire for the glory of Christ among the nations, we would be fools to pay no attention. Wisdom would lead us to at least consider if their counsel is God's way of moving us from a good idea to His idea. It may actually be God's way of confirming the call in our lives as we hear their counsel, pray passionately, and still feel compelled to go.
Tomorrow I will post two more questions and some brief closing thoughts
I am grateful for Scripture. Not because I am a preacher. I am thankful because there is a supernatural comfort that comes when we least expect it. I am thankful because God still speaks through it to calm, comfort, and convict us. Sometimes when we least expect it.
When we are putting the boys to bed and are praying, we often thank Jesus for the Bible. I feel that so deeply this morning. The gift of the Word is beyond precious. May I never treat it any less.
"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." Psalms 19:7-11
