This week at Grace, we had a missionary couple share with us their hearts desire to serve the Lord through TWR (Trans World Radio). This couple is from Maine. They grew up here, have lived here, and they know our culture. As I listened to them, I was struck how often we think of missionaries as "special" or another class of Christian.
I also see this as a pastor. Just last week, one person from the community slipped at a baseball game in front of me. They laughed it off until they saw it was me. When they noticed me, they said, "How could I be so foolish in front of the pastor?" I asked why was it different because I witnessed it. They replied, "Because I cannot be myself in front of you. I have to be different." What is this all about?
In Matthew 28:17, we get a glimpse into the hearts and minds of the disciples. They go to Galilee in response to Jesus' request. "When they saw him, they worshiped him." Obviously, they believed he was the Messiah. A good Jew of that day and age would not have worshiped anything but God. They believed that Jesus had risen from the dead. Obviously they did not understand all that this means (who has!), but they knew Jesus was the Messiah.
"But some doubted." This is the next part of versus 17. What did they doubt? I do not believe that some doubted Jesus was the Messiah. It just does not fit the context. Immediately, Matthew records that Jesus gives the disciples the great commission. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples..."
These early Christ-followers doubted that God could use them. Why? They had rejected him. Peter might have been one of the biggest doubters as he had sworn his fidelity to Jesus, and then denied him three times in an evening. They had more questions than answers. In the last week of Jesus' life, they had fought over who was the greatest. They no longer had the assurance of Jesus' presence in a physical sense. From the accounts, it is obvious the risen Jesus did not show up on command. He had appeared, but when would be the next time?
They were living and believing just like we often do today! How could Jesus use them? They were so disappointing. They were struggling. They did not have all the answers. They now did not have Jesus' physical presence. How could God use them?
"Surely I am with you always, even to the very end of the age." Jesus concludes with words of promise and hope. Words of Grace into the midst of the disciples fear and doubt. He was not leaving them as orphans! He would lead them! He would work in, through, and even in spite of them. He would use their strengths, their weaknesses, their sin, their doubt, and their times of faith. He knew their past, but He did not condemn. He gave a command to go and make disciples sandwiched between the promise of His power and authority (it is really about Him and not us), and his promise of abiding presence.
How can God use you? How can He use me? Real ministry is about trusting in His grace that He can use you even with and in our weaknesses. His power works through broken vessels (2 Cor. 4:7). The keys to being used by God are three:
1.) Recognize and confess that we are broken "jars of clay." Don't put on airs or think your answers will change anything or anyone. Confess your need for God to work!
2.) Ask God to work through us. Missionaries or pastors are not a special class of Christian. We are all priests of the Great King! Ask Jesus to use you at work, at home, or where ever you find yourself. Walk in partnership with Him! Talk with Him about people and situations.
3.) Be open to God's leading. In other words, have your eyes open to opportunities to love God and neighbor. Sometimes this means speaking. Often it just means going out of your way to express love and concern. As you do this, you will be amazed at the opportunities that will arise to speak about what God has done in your life.
Authentic grace means that God can use people like the disciples, like me, and like you! Do not fear for Jesus is the risen King!
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