Lord of the Loose Ends

When we say, "I am at loose ends" we are really saying that our life is not in control. Insecurities, being anxious, generally drives us tighten our grip. That is a dangerous spot. The Lord never intended for us to be in control. The more we give away control of our time, talent and treasure, the more the Lord can multiply the impact of our lives. Jesus is our example. He had the margin to be interrupted by anyone. He owned nothing for Himself.

It is the Lord alone that has the authority to take charge of our lives. We are not our own. We are bought with a price. It is a power struggle. We want to exercise our will and manipulate God to achieve our goals and control people and organize circumstances for our convenience. The Lord does not engage us at that level.

Instead, He asks us to do something that we cannot do without the power of the Holy Spirit by faith. For without faith, without risking something for God, it is impossible to please Him. It is a risky business not to please Him. It is a risky business not to risk something for God.

Prayerfully engage God in something big. Something you cannot do on your own. See if he is not good to multiply your efforts, 30, 60, 100X, maybe by 5000. For indeed we have a big God.

Oh, one more thing ...

After Jesus had completed the plan of salvation by ushering in the New Covenant, He made a number of post-resurrection appearances. These creator-visits were very pointed in purpose. He did not come back to make small talk or chit-chat about old times. For example, John adds a post script to his gospel by adding what is designated as Chapter 21. It seems that John puts the pen down, then after thoughtful contemplation says, "Oh, one more thing..."

Here the dialogue is principally with Peter. Peter and other young disciples decide to go back to fishing as a career. The hint to what is going on is that the crew caught a large amount of fish and the nets did not break. This is a clue that they bought all new equipment. Jesus asks, do you love me more than these [fish]? After denying Jesus a short while before, Peter was stuck. He had to submit to Christ and he did. Although Peter was regarded by contemporaries as ordinary and uneducated, he with the others and, of course, the Holy Spirit, turned the world upside down. It may be that in the midst of your career, the Lord asks the same question. "Do you love me more than life as you know it?"

We often load ourselves up with so many good things, that we have no margin to take on an assignment from God.

As a generation we are more equipped to disciple the nations than at any other time in history. We are not specifically called to evangelize the nations. That may be a part of discipleship, but after 150 years of modern missions, evangelism has, for the most part, not worked to produce generations of people in "receiving" countries that are prepared to equip others.

Nations of the world are not asking westerners to do evangelism, church planting, church growth, education, business, government, healthcare; they are asking us to help them to do it. Will you be part of the movement to disciple the nations? For you see, at the end of His time on earth, Jesus is quoted as saying, "Now therefore go and make disciples of the nations" [Matthew 28:19]. The sense we get from scripture then, is that the first thing Jesus may ask us in glory is, "What did you do with my last request?" What is your life-response?

Risky Business

When we say, "I am at loose ends" we are really saying that our life is not in control. Insecurities, being anxious, generally drives us tighten our grip. That is a dangerous spot. The Lord never intended for us to be in control. The more we give away control of our time, talent and treasure, the more the Lord can multiply the impact of our lives. Jesus is our example. He had the margin to be interrupted by anyone. He owned nothing for Himself.

It is the Lord alone that has the authority to take charge of our lives. We are not our own. We are bought with a price. It is a power struggle. We want to exercise our will and manipulate God to achieve our goals and control people and organize circumstances for our convenience. The Lord does not engage us at that level.

Instead, He asks us to do something that we cannot do without the power of the Holy Spirit by faith. For without faith, without risking something for God, it is impossible to please Him. It is a risky business not to please Him. It is a risky business not to risk something for God.

Prayerfully engage God in something big. Something you cannot do on your own. See if he is not good to multiply your efforts, 30, 60, 100X, maybe by 5000. For indeed we have a big God.

Whose Plans?

We are fond of applying Jer 29:11 to our lives. With Israel in a tough spot, the Lord says, "I know the plans I have for you ..."

This chapter is like an apple of gold in a setting of rubble. The nation is warned of impending trouble by Jeremiah, the Lord's spokesman. The leaders of the day, on the other hand, are pontificating that things will be alright and claiming they have the word from the Lord.

The Lord tells His people to bloom where they are planted in verses 5-7:

Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have taken you. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.

Then in verses 11 and 12 the Lord promises:

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 Also

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matt 28:19-20

And one more thing, Jesus adds, I am with you always.

How ready are we to abandon our agenda for are lives and adopt His agenda for our ultimate prosperity—not necessarily in this life, but the next?

Why Missions?

Among His last words before leaving the earth, Jesus applied no qualifier as to who should be involved in training the people of the nations. There is no exclusion as to age, social status or ethnic origin. Further, He did not call us to evangelize the nations, but to disciple the nations.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them ..., teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and ... - Jesus [Matt 28:19-20]

It is not necessary to wonder if it is God's will to be about the business of representing Jesus. We are appointed to do so.

I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain - Jesus [John 15:16]

Life is not about the American dream, die and go to Heaven. There are eternal rewards for serving the Lord. We all have plenty of wood, hay and stubble. How much gold, silver and precious stone will be laid up for you?

Now if anyone build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble ... it shall be revealed by fire. [1 Cor 3:12]

As to the biblical warrant for missions, It is very dangerous to expect there is a second chance. Scripture just does not support the concept. Thus, it is incumbent on every believer to share the hope that is within us.

... it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ... [Heb 9:27]

The message of the exclusivity of Jesus was and is not popular. Expect tough going. The Christian journey is a fight. But opposition is not against you, it is against the Holy Spirit.

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; [1 Cor 1:23]

For Whom time is not linear, this is accomplished. For us, bound by time and space, this will be accomplished. Have you been a part of this great plan or have you been on the sidelines? Will you be a part of this great plan or will you stand on the sidelines? This what will be finished.

Thou ... has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation;... [Rev 5:9] and

The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. [Hab 2:14]