Recently it has been humbling to realize that I haven’t been living life in accordance to my current understanding of the gospels. In doing some soul searching I have come to realize that I am afraid to follow Christ with my life. I fear the drug addict, transient, and sexual deviant. I am afraid of what it would look like to free up space to be available to the marginalized. I am afraid of taking time away from my wife and baby girl. I fear for their safety. I fear stepping out in faith, fully trusting God and serving the needs of Christ’s beloved poor. In my vocation I am supposed to be macho and tough, afraid of nothing. In some regards this is true, I can rush into burning buildings, and search for victims amid the scorching blackness without a second thought, but to completely transform my daily life to make room for the least of these seems daunting. Interestingly enough, i’ve been going thru Isiah 58 and this fear is specifically addressed.
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say; Here am I.”
I love that while we are still afraid we are called into participation and action. I think it’s wild that we are asked to cling to the Lord, serving the poor wanderer and clothing the naked before healing occurs. Our righteousness paves the way for us, and God is our rear guard and protector. “THEN (WE) WILL CALL, AND THE LORD WILL ANSWER; (WE) WILL CRY FOR HELP, AND HE WILL SAY; HERE AM I.” This is amazing, it’s one of those if/then statements, it is also a promise! Brothers, do you hear the click, click, click of the the roller coaster slowly gearing up, I fear we might in for a bumpy ride.
Look forward to talking more. Thanks for the encouragement!!!
Recently it has been humbling to realize that I haven’t been living life in accordance to my current understanding of the gospels. In doing some soul searching I have come to realize that I am afraid to follow Christ with my life. I fear the drug addict, transient, and sexual deviant. I am afraid of what it would look like to free up space to be available to the marginalized. I am afraid of taking time away from my wife and baby girl. I fear for their safety. I fear stepping out in faith, fully trusting God and serving the needs of Christ’s beloved poor. In my vocation I am supposed to be macho and tough, afraid of nothing. In some regards this is true, I can rush into burning buildings, and search for victims amid the scorching blackness without a second thought, but to completely transform my daily life to make room for the least of these seems daunting. Interestingly enough, i’ve been going thru Isiah 58 and this fear is specifically addressed.
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say; Here am I.”
I love that while we are still afraid we are called into participation and action. I think it’s wild that we are asked to cling to the Lord, serving the poor wanderer and clothing the naked before healing occurs. Our righteousness paves the way for us, and God is our rear guard and protector. “THEN (WE) WILL CALL, AND THE LORD WILL ANSWER; (WE) WILL CRY FOR HELP, AND HE WILL SAY; HERE AM I.” This is amazing, it’s one of those if/then statements, it is also a promise! Brothers, do you hear the click, click, click of the the roller coaster slowly gearing up, I fear we might in for a bumpy ride.
Look forward to talking more. Thanks for the encouragement!!!
Godspeed,
Mark