Seeing the whole picture
I have this overwhelming desire to make a difference. I want to be able to look back on my life and see a noticeable hole in society if I wasn't born. But the more I get to know Jesus and the more I look at him, the more I think - that's not what life's about.
Jesus, greatest teacher in all the world, greatest prophet and king had twelve close friends. He didn't come in and storm the Roman Government (like he could have), or demand to be made king on earth. No Jesus, just healed people. He talked to them. He told them stories. Then he died. To all humanity it looks like his life had little to no significance. When he died people said "We told you he was a nobody." All his hundreds of followers vanished without a trace. The twelve who knew him went into hiding. Yeah he had made a difference in their lives - now they have to be sneaky wherever they go and make sure no one finds out where they live. "Because of knowing Jesus I have to go into the witness protection program!" What a great gig.
The reason they thought this is because they couldn't see the whole picture. They couldn't see three days down the road when Jesus would rise again. They couldn't see the 500 people that would see him. They couldn't see him ascending to heaven. They couldn't understand the things he taught them in the garden or on the mountain in the boat or in the storm. They didn't know that he was the Son of God. They didn't realize that they would all die for his name. They didn't see the passion they would have to see his name spread throughout the world. They didn't understand the boldness they would possess as a product of having the Holy Spirit living inside of them. They couldn't see the lives that would be transformed as a result of what Jesus did. They couldn't see you or me who would benefit from believing in God's only son. They were unable to see the whole picture.
Life is about trusting Jesus in the ordinary. It's about striving to please him at work, home and school. It's about choosing everyday to say "Jesus I'm willing to follow you." No matter how it hurts or challenges you. No matter how afraid you are or how you feel. As much as I want to make a difference, I want to follow Jesus more. And as long as that is the case.... everything is going to be okay.
Jesus, greatest teacher in all the world, greatest prophet and king had twelve close friends. He didn't come in and storm the Roman Government (like he could have), or demand to be made king on earth. No Jesus, just healed people. He talked to them. He told them stories. Then he died. To all humanity it looks like his life had little to no significance. When he died people said "We told you he was a nobody." All his hundreds of followers vanished without a trace. The twelve who knew him went into hiding. Yeah he had made a difference in their lives - now they have to be sneaky wherever they go and make sure no one finds out where they live. "Because of knowing Jesus I have to go into the witness protection program!" What a great gig.
The reason they thought this is because they couldn't see the whole picture. They couldn't see three days down the road when Jesus would rise again. They couldn't see the 500 people that would see him. They couldn't see him ascending to heaven. They couldn't understand the things he taught them in the garden or on the mountain in the boat or in the storm. They didn't know that he was the Son of God. They didn't realize that they would all die for his name. They didn't see the passion they would have to see his name spread throughout the world. They didn't understand the boldness they would possess as a product of having the Holy Spirit living inside of them. They couldn't see the lives that would be transformed as a result of what Jesus did. They couldn't see you or me who would benefit from believing in God's only son. They were unable to see the whole picture.
Life is about trusting Jesus in the ordinary. It's about striving to please him at work, home and school. It's about choosing everyday to say "Jesus I'm willing to follow you." No matter how it hurts or challenges you. No matter how afraid you are or how you feel. As much as I want to make a difference, I want to follow Jesus more. And as long as that is the case.... everything is going to be okay.
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