Who Me?

As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. -Matthew 9:9

Henry Ford once said, “I’m looking for people with an infinite capacity for not knowing what can’t be done.” It was in that spirit that Henry Ford built a company that is still successful today. It was that pioneer spirit that embraces change even when change can be unsettling.

When Jesus walked up to Matthew and asked him to follow him, it had to be unsettling to the crowd around him. You see tax collectors weren’t the most honorable and distinguished citizens of the day. Many times they were corrupt and criminal, and yet Jesus stopped and called him.

One aspect of being missional is not simply seeing things the way they are, but envisioning what they could be. Jesus didn’t ask Matthew to change before he would be his friend, he met him right where he was and, if you read on, the next place they went was to Matthew’s house so that Jesus could meet his friends.

The religious people of that day judged both Matthew and Jesus on the basis of what they saw. Jesus was more interested in what they would become. Matthew went on to become a martyr and a pioneer of the faith. All because he was willing to risk change and follow God.

We will make it our mission to simply meet people where they are and help them see what life could be like if they trusted and were willing to follow Jesus. Encouraging them to take it one step and one day at a time.

There is a fine line between being an influencer and being influenced. The key to walking that line is being accountable and available. Letting the Holy Spirit of God lead you in not simply seeing the way things are but what they could be. Ask God to turn you into a pioneer and to have the heart that says anything can be done through Christ.

Remember, being a pioneer is both exciting and fearful. The willingness to not just walk the path but to cut the path requires incredible faith and resilience. This is what wakes me up every morning. The idea that we get the privilege to walk the path that God lays before us but sometimes we also have the opportunity to cut a new path as well!

How Far Will You Go?

For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

“What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? -Matthew 18:11-12

Jesus went a long way from home because he was on a mission, he told us that his mission was to seek and to save the lost, their was nothing that could keep him from his mission.

Jesus posed a question that resonated with his audience of that day. It dealt with a profession that was very common and understandable to them, a shepherd. The question was simple but very direct.

If you had a 100 sheep and one was lost would you be willing to leave the 99 on the mountain and go search for the one straying? Now I am not a shepherd but there is something in me that says if I was, I would. It is almost instinctive. When something or someone is lost, we desperately want to find it. We will even join others to help them find something or someone because we care.

I like the phrase in the passage today that says, “leave the ninety-nine on the mountain.” There is always risk in leaving but you can’t find the one if you don’t. Being missional is being willing to leave the mountain to head for the valley. I know there is comfort on the mountain and after all you still have 99 sheep. Why leave for just one? You have got to get out of the walls of the church so you can make a difference. This is why I love leading and going on mission trips.

The mission God has for us is to know Him and to make Him known. How far will you go for the mission? Will you risk leaving the 99 for the sake of one? Is God calling you to take the next step?