In John 14, the “pep-talk” Jesus gives His disciples is full of rather peculiar elements. Chambers says that Jesus never insists upon obedience, and yet Jesus says to His disciples in the same discourse referenced by Chambers that, “a new commandment I give you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” Is a commandment not insistence?
I suppose such a command is not insistence like Chambers is referring to. He basically means that Jesus doesn’t force obedience, but allows choice regarding obedience. It does seem rather strange that in this I have choice, in salvation not so much (am I the elect?). Here again, I see his point, but I also believe he goes a bit far with it. He says that my Master does not give me rules, and yet He gives me a new commandment. True it’s not a rule in the traditional sense, but it has a few similarities.
What I can’t do is limit my Master to what He will accomplish, even through me. I have seen far too often in retrospect, that my Master will accomplish something through me almost regardless of me. I think He does this because it demonstrates how little I am needed for His work. I’m invited, but not indispensable. That’s comforting, because of the sheer number of mistakes I make, I’d hate the stress of believing someone else’s eternity depended upon me. So, I don’t posit my Master’s ability to reach through me on me. What I posit on my obedience is the degree to which I participate and the degree to which I am aware of His work.
When my fear stops me from engaging obediently in my community, then I cut myself off from the blessings of seeing my Master work. He still works, and will even use me from time to time, I just don’t see it except in retrospect. I miss the blessings of joy and excitement to see my Master accomplish the miracle of redemption in the lives of people around me. That’s a big blessing to give up just because I don’t know what might happen.
I hope to have a teacher meeting this afternoon, and perhaps that will provide an opportunity to engage obediently with my community in a real manner. But there may be others. I had a remote control helicopter crash two back yards away, which gave me the opportunity to meet some neighbors I don’t normally see. I guess I just never know where the opportunities may come from. Perhaps I need to fly the silly helicopter more and meet more people that way? I’m sure there are better ways, like… wow, such a lack of creativity. I am so dependent upon my Master, even for creative ways to meet the neighbors. Maybe I need more coffee this morning.
No comments:
Post a Comment