Waypoints: The Heart of Discipleship

I have never been much for reading directions.
“C’mon…I don’t have enough time to waste it on reading things. I need to get after the task at hand.”
 
If you can relate to what I just wrote, then I am guessing you can also relate to needing to redo a thing or two along the way. You can probably also understand the concept of a task taking more time than it should have because you put the “thing-a-ma-jig” in the place where the “doo-dad” was supposed to go. Or how about at the conclusion of putting together that DIY piece of furniture you wonder why they included so much extra hardware.
 
It is not difficult for me to admit that this is a fault of mine. But I need to also express an appreciation for a positive attribute that is often on the flipside of this shortcoming. I love and have immense appreciation for people that are executors. These people just get it done! When they see something that needs attention – they are on it. When they commit to doing something – it is now off my mind. I absolutely love working with executors.
 
This week’s message will be about being executors in God’s Kingdom, but to become an executor in God’s Kingdom we need to spend time “learning from and listening to” the ruler of the Kingdom. [Luke 10.38-42] It is necessary for us to “read the directions” or spend time in God’s Word and with His people growing as disciples. None of us is strong enough or wise enough to go out and execute without God’s provisions of insight and power.
 
Jesus was very clear in His teaching that there is an internal transformation that needs to take place before our actions will bear the full power of God’s Kingdom. On my own I will either try to impress others for my own glory or I will be crushed by the burdens of the world. Jesus invites us to come to Him to be strengthened and then to go into the world in His power. In the busyness of life and its’ demands Jesus spoke to Martha about the absolute necessity of spending time in His’ presence like her sister Mary was:
 

• 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
  

 
So let’s be about the one thing that is needed – Jesus! Out of that kingdom work will flow quite naturally.
 
In Christ,
Pastor Nick