Resume

Through the years I’ve heard several preachers talk about the Jesus and the Disciples and the qualifications or disqualifications most of them would have if the modern model of success were used to chose them today.  It runs pretty close to a thought that I want to share now.

First, we’ll look at a few things that would jump out about Jesus if he were to submit a resume. From a purely physical viewpoint, He was a homeless person, He was unemployed and mostly lived off handouts. He wandered through peoples gardens picking their vegetables and eating them right on the spot.  He pushed back against the religious establishment of the days and broke the law by doing His “work” on the sabbath day.
He wouldn’t be given an interview let alone considered for employment in today’s world.

Each of the 12 Disciples had some serious emotional/psychological stuff going on as well. Peter was unstable, quick-tempered and prone to fits of rage. Thomas was negative and probably bad for morale, James and John tried to elevate themselves above the rest, Matthew was a taxman, so probably didn’t have too many friends, and on and on it goes.  One writer said the Judas was probably the best suited for employment of them all if using the standards of today’s recruiters.

Throughout history God has chosen the outcasts, the wild and wooly, to make history.
There’s a quote that says well-behaved women seldom make history, I believe that goes for pretty much everyone.  I’m not talking about mistreating people or doing people wrong. I’m talking about people that are willing to step out of line, to cross conventional thinking and risk failure for what is right or take a stand for something that they believe in.

When Jesus came onto the scene, he came to change everything.  Giving mankind the opportunity for a One on One relationship with God that they needed and He longed for.
God already had synagogues full of well-dressed and proper men facilitating the old ways, which just so happened to exclude the common man from the presence and experience of God.  Under the old law, they would never be able to commune with God the way He desired, but it took upsetting the apple cart, stepping out of line and pushing against the conventional to make this happen.  Everyone involved accepted a certain amount of risk, but the reward was worth it for them and for those of us who share in that glory even now.

Most of us are confounded by the tens, hundreds and even thousands that come to the Lord in foreign lands, where our missionaries are working.  And then we can’t understand why people won’t come to “our church” and live for God.  I say, if what we are doing is not working we must figure out what will.

Persecution of the early Church caused the church to spread and to grow.  Persecution causes some changes to occur in the hearts and lives of Christians.
It forces them to move, to stop waiting for the world to come to them and causes the church to go into the highways and hedges.  It takes the message to the Lost instead of expecting the Lost to stumble upon the Church and come in.

And, it separates the wheat from the tares.  No fake Christian is going to subject themselves to the dangers when switching sides is easier, so the unfaithful depart and faith increases and therefore, so does the presence of the Holy Ghost.

I believe that our missionaries see revival more than most because they have moved out of their comfort zones, into the highways and hedges and in many cases put themselves in or very near to a state of persecution.  If it’s illegal to be a Christian where you are, and you are willing to risk your life or freedom to further the gospel, you have initiated the persecution effect.

So, what does that mean to me? For years I’ve been anxious and unsettled, you could say restless.  I wasn’t sure what needed to change, but I knew something did.
The Word is Forever Settled, so it’s not the Word that needs to change. In fact, we must be cautious that Truth always prevails and we stay true to Gods Holy Word and the commandments within.  So what needs to change? I don’t have all the answers, but I know that my approach must change, my walk must change, my desire to see souls saved must increase.

We need to start looking at the Church as a Table and the service as a meal. It’s a place I go to be nourished in my spirit.  But that’s not living for God, anybody can live for God at Church. We get Church confused with life.  The church is where Christians are replenished to survive life.  Life happens outside the walls of the Churchhouse.  You live outside of the Church, that’s also where souls are won or lost.  We have to get past thinking that we go there a couple times a week, turn on the lights and wait for the sinners to come. That doesn’t work, it hasn’t worked like that in my lifetime for sure.  Sinners are reached in the wasteland, in the highways and hedges, in the market and at the fountain.  We have stood so rigidly in defense of God’s Word and God’s Way that I’m afraid we built an almost impenetrable wall around it and can’t understand why no one is coming in.

Conventional is not the Resume “Key Word” God is looking for.  I believe with all my Heart that God is looking for Men and Women willing to shake things up, to step out of line, to go outside the normal, to get close to the action
And I also believe that Revival and an influx of souls await them that do.

God Bless You Richly
Greg