Determining Mission

09.25.11

Luke 8.38-39 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him. NIV

Recently, many people have urged Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), chairman of the House of Representatives Budget Committee, to run for president – Ryan has declined saying he can serve this nation better where he is rather than as president. Ryan, for now, has determined his mission.

The restored man in Luke 8 wanted to go with Jesus; he begged Jesus for that privilege. Jesus sent him away with a different mission: “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” It was more important for the man to return to his family and friends than go with Jesus as a side-show.

For years my mission was to be a pastor and a public speaker. I wanted to lead a congregation and preach God’s truth to people. In ministry, to be vocational makes ministry into a different creature. I wasn’t used to the lack of money, the need to be bi-vocational, and the difficulties of pastoring a flock who seemed willing to listen but unwilling to act. Now please, that is not an indictment of some very good people, it’s just the way it is in American Christianity: be present, be faithful in giving, but no need to participate (at least on a level that’s too deep or time-consuming.)

Jesus knew the man who’d been restored would be far more believable among those who knew him than among those who didn’t. The ones who knew him would be more impacted by his life change than those who had no point of reference. That’s why we’re to live out our faith actively and faithfully in front of those in our immediate sphere of influence; if anyone can readily see the difference in us, they can.

And faith is really not about the showing, it’s about the knowing. The one who knows God and trusts in Him will stand out from those who don’t. The ones who determine to let God dictate the identity of their lives will shine in ways that those who don’t, won’t. The man in Luke needed God to determine his identity (and be found in Him) rather than let his time of demon-possession take center-stage. Yes, his healing was radical and tremendous, but his relationship with the Living God was infinitely beyond that. Circumstances are what they are but responding to God and steadfastly remaining with Him in the midst of them is what makes the difference.

In this stage of life what is important to me is my relationship with Jesus and letting others see that in me. I am not all about preaching and teaching (although, if you invite me to speak at your church, I’d probably take you on it…). What I am about is living out my faith and trying to influence the people around me to see my faith and look for God for themselves. The wisest and kindest thing Jesus did for the man in Luke 8 was to send him home to reconnect to the lives of people he’d probably chased off in his time of incarceration in darkness. Had he gone off on the preaching circuit, they probably all would’ve thought he’d just traded one craziness for another anyway…