What was He Thinking?

I think it was 1980- I know it was a blistering hot summer day and my good friend Jim (names have been changed to protect the guilty) was serving for match point. On the court next to us were 2 gorgeous young ladies all decked out in their tight little tennis outfits- not that I really noticed being a married man and all. My friend "Jim" was a picture of concentration as he made the perfect toss of the flourescent yellow tennis ball into a pristine blue sky background and came with such force against the ball on his serve that all I could see was a yellow- green blur as it landed perfectly in the service court and sailed past me-

ACE! Game- Set- Match!

My friend- fist pumping high in the air- overcome with exuberance and feeling the fullness of himself shot toward the net like a lightning bolt. As he approached the net-ready to leap over in an impressive display of machismo for all to see (Especially the 2 little cuties on the next court) some how he misjudged it's height or maybe his own fatigue or both.......... Well you get the picture- the thrill of victory can turn into the agony of defeat so quickly.

What in the world was he thinking?

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore into all the nations, making disciples, baptizing and teaching........... I have wondered from time to time what God might have been thinking as He gave us an assignment of such monumental importance- I mean it's life and death right- why leave it to people as messed up as I am- a certain disaster in the making. Over the years I have come to believe 2 things that have helped me. First there is the truth that I can not save anyone-it is not about my performance or skill or goodness in delivering the gospel. The Holy Spirit will do the persuading if there is any to be done-My success is measured not by results, but by faithfulness. Beyond that- I believe the great commision is more for me and my own Christian growth in Love and Grace than it than it is about me "getting somebody saved". Think of it from the stand point of the Great Command- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, strength and soul- Love your neighbor as yourself- Maybe the best way to grow in these 2 Love relationships is to share the gospel. Sharing the gospel is risky business- it calls us out of ourselves to risk rejection- to move in the motivation of God's Love for another and practice our love for another all at once. Think of it from the standpoint of faith in action- Sharing the gospel is a sign that we believe what we say we believe enough to go public with it. Christianity is a personal relationship with God, but clearly it is not to be a private relationship. God knew exactly what he was doing- He has not misjudged the height of the net. The end result of our faith is to unite our hearts to God's own Great Heart- To bring us to a point of being drawn up in Him and live out who He is in all we do- The Glory of God is on display as Christ is revealed in a man. What is more important to the heart of God than bringing about His Love for people in His Own People? How is His Love displayed in any more full way? When am I more united to God's Heart than when I am willing to come out of myself- to die to self- for the Love of God? Father, be in me today and every day to constantly be sharing the Gospel- Your Love- to everyone I come in contact with. Amen