Jesus Did Not Sit Around

Awhile back, I counseled with a woman in my office, and as she left the church pastoral office area, she seemed confused as to which way to go. I asked if she knew how to get out. She said, “I think I know—but last week I was here and I got so embarrassed because I couldn’t figure out how to get out of the church.”

It occurred to me that many people have not figured out how to get out of the church. You see, Jesus has called us into the world to be His witnesses and there is no church activity (as worthwhile as it may be) that replaces the call to mission. In too many incidences, the salt has refused to leave the shaker. The light has declined to shine in the darkness.

The words of Jesus should reverberate in our minds, “Do you not say, ‘There are four months, and then comes the harvest?’ I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35).

The challenge of Christ’s words are not lessened by His example. Jesus did not sit around! He was “moved with compassion” when He saw the multitudes, but He also moved with compassion among them. You could find Jesus in the market place, along a major roadway, at a social event, in the synagogue, by the seashore, at a public festival, and in a private home. He told the Good News everywhere He went. He shared the life-changing message of the Kingdom of God with a tax collector at a tax booth, a woman at the well, children and families gathered around Him, a man sitting in a tree, fishermen in a boat, and a thief on a cross.

Jesus touched the lives of every sort of person: rulers, servants, lepers, prostitutes, soldiers, teachers, revolutionaries, government workers, wise men, farmers, shepherds, the poor and the wealthy. Jesus truly loved people and shared with all.

Jesus told His disciples, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men (people)” (Matthew 4:19). The early followers of Jesus followed His example of witness and impacted their world in powerful ways. The early disciples stood and spoke boldly (Acts 2:14), confessed publicly (Acts 2:41), took missionary journeys (Acts 13:1-3), preached the gospel (Acts 13:5), witnessed in the market place (Acts 17:16-17), held personal conferences (Acts 18:26), shared house-to-house (Acts 20:20), and shared their testimonies (Acts 26:12-18).

Like the early followers of Jesus, we should follow our Lord’s example and obey His instructions, “You shall be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8). Indeed, as I spoke about this past Sunday, let’s be smart about it—but let’s get to it! Share Jesus!

(On Sunday, I will share about fulfilling our mission together!)

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron