Yesterday
2 February we celebrated the feast of the Presentation. Forty days after Jesus was born, he was
brought to the temple to make the prescribed ceremonial offering. Fist an old man named Simeon took him and
prayed a remarkable prayer over him: “my eyes have seen your salvation”, “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your
people Israel.” Then an
ancient prophetess named Anna also prayed, and “spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the
redemption of Jerusalem.” We
remember this at the end of the brief season of Epiphany, that time when we
celebrate the shining forth of God’s glory, Jesus’ revelation to the world.
We
return to the temple for our reading from Isaiah. At a time of political and social turmoil,
when the old, disgraced, leprous king has just died, Isaiah has this amazing
vision as he worships in the temple. He
sees this host of angels, worshipping God, and he is terrified because he is
suddenly aware of his sins and imperfections.
An
angel touches his lips with a coal from the altar to purify him, and many take
this as a picture of the work of the cross, cleansing and purifying us. Isaiah hears a voice saying ‘Whom shall I
send? And who will go for us?’ And Isaiah says ‘Here am I. Send me!’
Both
of these stories are about Christ being made known, his glory being allowed to
shine forth. But how?
This
is the fourth week of our series Just Walk Across the Room. We were reminded of the single greatest gift
we can offer the people around us, which is an introduction to their creator
and lover of their souls, God himself.
Then
we thought about living in 3D. We were
encouraged to Develop friendships, Discover stories, prayerfully Discern
next steps. These three things are what we can think about, pray about, and act
on when we’re operating in the Zone of the Unknown. The 3D framework reminds us
to take things slow with people, allowing the other person to be in the
spotlight, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead the dance.
Last
week we looked at the power of story.
How important it is to know God’ story and tell it well. What is our
story of before Christ became real in our lives, and what has happened after?
Today
we look at Grander Vision living. Sometimes
there are wonderful things for us to see and experience, but we miss them
because we are concentrating of the surface view, and don’t look with. If you had been in the temple on the day that
Simeon took Jesus in his arms, you might just have noticed an old man with a
baby. You might have missed the
proclamation that here is the hope of all humans, the one who will bring
healing and forgiveness to all who will turn to him.
If
you had been in the temple with Isaiah, you might have seen only the prophet
struck by remarkable vision of God, and missed the wonder and glory of it. Or you might have seen the angels and been
caught up in the eternal song of “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord!” You might yet have missed the real thing
that was happening, the point of the whole exercise, that God is looking for
those who will go for him.
If
you had been on the sea shore with Jesus, you might have heard him preach and
seen the crowds; you might have seen the disciples going out (against their
will) to try again to catch fish and having a miraculous result. You might have seen Peter fall on his knees
and confess his sinfulness. But you
might have missed the grander vision, the point of it all.
God’s
priority is people. All that Jesus did
was about reaching out to seek and to save those who were lost. The priority is people. On a day when these three career fisher men
had made the most significant and amazing catch of their professional lives,
Jesus points them to a bigger catch, a higher priority, people. He is asking them to completely reorder their
lives, so that from now on they will seek to fish for people.
Prioritizing
people. This is what so much of our four-week series has been about, as you’ll
recall. Taking walks across rooms for people. Caring more about other people
than about yourself. Having a sort of
“radical inclusiveness” for people, even if they look different, talk
different, act different, vote different, and so on.
And
so Jesus asks all of us who say we want to be walk-across-the-room people … Will
you choose the Grander Vision in your situation?
It’s
the big-fish opportunity that awaits us all:
You
can catch fish … or become fishers of men and women.
You
can be a successful businessperson … or excel at the business of redeeming lives.
You
can be the top student … or focus your attention on studying people.
You
can shine as a superstar salesman … or care more about letting your light
shine in the lives of people all around you!
We
are to reorder our lives, so that the way that we live speaks of God. The way that we conduct ourselves at work,
the way that we drive our car, the way that we treat our spouse, parents or
children or friends. All that we do and
say, and the way that we do it and say it is a light shining so that others
will see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven.
As
we make people the priority, we focus on
potential. We see so many folk who
seem to have no thought or concern to live God’s way. Very often they seem to be far from living
the sort of life that God is looking for.
But we look beyond that, seeking for what God can do in that person’s
life. We let God do what he wants to in a person’s life – we are not there to
impose our judgements about how they should behave. Instead we practice a kind of radical inclusiveness that shares God’s
love with everyone.
We
get a clue to this later in Luke chapter 5, where we read in verse 27 that
Jesus encounters a tax collector called Levi or Matthew. Here is someone obviously beyond the pale,
but Jesus calls him to follow him. This
was a completely unlikely event to take place – this materialistic, money
grabbing person sold out to the Romans, who obviously had no time for God. But Jesus called him and he followed. We can do the same.
We
can also learn the next step. Start small …. But start.
The
first thing that Matthew does is to throw a party. He invites his erstwhile colleagues and
friends to meet Jesus. Nothing
fancy. Just keep it simple, and do
something. Do what makes sense. If you dog walk, invite a friend. If you make cup cakes, have a tea party or
coffee morning. If you live near a park,
have a picnic. Do what seems natural. Get the ratio right. Try to have the Christians outnumbered by the
non-churchgoers. People do not like to
feel ganged up on.
Do
share this grander vision? Will you join
me in making people a priority? Will you
share your life with others?
Discussion pointers
1. Have you ever thought
that being a Christian meant you had to become a lifestyle referee to the world
about you? What did you think when Bill
said Christ-followers are under no obligation to play such a role?
2. What did you think
about the Matthew Party concept – an event where you invite a few Christ
followers, several seekers, and several people who want nothing to do with
God? What fears or concerns are raised
by the idea of hosting one?
3. Apart from the idea
used in the video, what other ways could be used to invite meaningful
conversation at a Matthew Party, or any other gathering?
4. It is vital to make
the most of God’s supernatural power that is available to every believer
through the Holy Spirit at work in us.
Study the following verses to see what you can learn about the Holy
Spirit’s involvement in the life of the Christ-follower:
5. John 14:16-21; Acts 1:8 Romans 8:26-27
6. God’s timing and plans
are often different from ours (see Isaiah 55:8). How can we develop God’s patience when it
doesn’t seem like any spiritual progress is being made in the lives of people
we care deeply about?
7. Based on that we have
learned so far in this four week experience, what are some ways you can build
trust with people who are far from God, so when things finally turn spiritual,
they are convinced you have their best interests at heart?
Pray together asking God to help you to be his
mouthpiece. Pray that you would play the
role you are supposed to play in people’s lives. Pray that hearts would melt, people would be
changed, and that their place in eternity would be secured.
You might like to name some people who you would like God
to open a door for your message.
Commit to pray for an opportunity to share your faith
with them, especially during the week of Camberley Connections, March 9-17th
2013.