Even Jesus-followers learn to rationalize patterns of doubt, fear, and faithlessness. Here are a few reasons some of us use to justify our faith failure:

No one else is.
Peter was the only one getting out of that boat (Matthew 14).  Joshua and Caleb were the only one’s interested in going into the Promise Land (Numbers 13).  If you have to hang with the crowd you will not trust Jesus.

It’s too difficult.
We prefer comforts and conveniences over the calling of Jesus.  The Rich Young Ruler felt that way.  We all get that.  But our trivial pleasures are too often the greatest barriers to knowing the pleasures of Christ. The man who found the treasure in the field, went and sold everything to buy the field.  That was no sacrifice.

I can’t.
Doubting personal abilities is nothing knew.  Moses adamantly defended his inability (Exodus 3).  As helpful as studies in personality styles, leadership IQ, and skill sets are, those factors never limit what Christ in us produces.  ”I can’t” does not demonstrate humility.  Instead, it is an indictment on the character of God and the power of Jesus.

I’m afraid.
Fear is the default for many of us.  We say “no” because we are afraid.  We respond with anger because we are afraid.  We get negative because we are afraid. We worry because we are afraid.  The list of phobias continues to grow.  We are paralyzed by fear because we are more influenced by our circumstances than we are by our Savior. Following Jesus is risky. It may cost us our lives. And although we see danger, by faith we can focus on Jesus. He captivates our hearts like nothing else and directs our steps.

People are against me.
Jesus followers have always experienced opposition. The night Jesus was arrested, the disciples distanced themselves from Him because of it. But Solomon said, “The fear of man brings a snare…”(Proverbs 29:25).  It will always be difficult for people pleasers to live as God-pleasers.  So in Acts 2, the same men who scattered at Jesus’ arrest were boldly preaching Jesus to the very ones who crucified their Lord. The resurrection of Jesus and the indwelling Spirit of God turns cowards into more than conquerers.

I’ve never done this before.
Familiarity, like comfort, holds us back from doing what Jesus calls us to do, going where He calls us to go, and becoming who He calls to become. We idolize what we know and who we know. Rather than embrace the adventure of knowing Christ more fully through new experiences, we settle for well-traveled paths where our faith atrophies, where our walk with Jesus is reduced to over-told and now exaggerated stories of yesteryear. But we discover in the book of Acts that Jesus-following is about movement. It’s going to new places, because God is moving toward a new destination.

I tried and failed.
It seems that God takes losers, makes them into winners, then let’s them lose again so they will trust Him for the biggest win. We see this in Jesus’ relationship with Peter.  Jesus believed in this proud man, changed his name, gave him big wins, then allowed him to have bigger losses, so he could ultimately be on the front line of a global Gospel movement.  Trusting Jesus comes with losses, setbacks, and major failures so that God can sanctify us and prepare us for a greater work.

So now that you’re out of excuses, why not trust Jesus?  Don’t just believe in Jesus. Believe Him.

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God challenged me.  And through His Word, through circumstances, and through other people, He confirmed His calling on my life and began moving my heart to pursue a new season of ministry.

It was unmistakable and undeniable.  So I began thinking about a new world order for my life, and I came face-to-face with the reality I could not stay where I am and follow Jesus.  That was difficult because I like where I’m at…great friends, healthy church, happy family, and meaningful ministry.  But staying was not an option.

So I began to pray and imagine what leaving should look like.  Here are a few principles that helped me; maybe they can help you as well:

Embrace God’s call.

When God gives you a passion, pursue it with all your heart.  Other things may be more comfortable, but nothing will be more rewarding.

Act with courage.

Jesus gave up His life to fulfill the Father’s will, so expect difficulties.  But never allow your fears to paralyze your faith.  There is danger ahead, but God can be trusted.

Take your family with you.

The journey you are on is not just about you.  Some of the best advice I received was to give my kids an opportunity to be a part of the transition process even before we had all the information.  As a result they began praying with us and are now better prepared to do whatever it takes to join the new assignment.

Go instead of leave.

If you’re going to go, you have to leave; but running away never honors God or helps anyone else.  God calls us to something, so know who you are and what God is calling you to before you try to leave.

Avoid isolation.

Some situations require discretion until more clarity exists, but do all you can to avoid the temptation to go solo.  Communicate early with people closest to you because aspiring to a new role is commendable, but the prayer, counsel, and affirmation of others are invaluable.

Celebrate God’s activity.

Just because your heart is moving to a new adventure does not deny the work God is doing right where you are.  God is a big God, and He calls different people to different places of service for specific seasons.  So celebrate His activity where you are and where you’re going.

Stay connected.

The relationships you have built will be either validated or discounted in how you treat people on your way out.  Everyone understands you will be distracted by a whirlwind of activity, but slow down and take time to encourage the people who have invested in you.

Involve others.

The friends you have and the lives you have touched have made you who you are.  So invite them into the process of transition.  Pull back the curtain and let them see your future like you do.  Let them experience it and even speak into it.  And if you can, let them usher you into your new assignment.

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Israel wanted a king.  We read in 1 Samuel 8 where they demanded one, and God gave them Saul.  If you’re thinking of taking on a new role or position, here are four realities that may help:

Your role may be new but God’s activity is not.

New leaders come into a work of God that is already in progress.

As much as the people wanted a political ruler, God knew the presence of a king would shift their dependence away from God and onto that king.  That’s exactly what happened.  While Saul was timid at first, he got used to the power and the reverence his position granted to him.

Position can be intoxicating for new leaders, and humility can be quickly replaced by pride. But spiritual leaders demonstrate and encourage others toward a desperate dependence on God and a zealous passion to join His activity.

Your role may be exciting but the needs are big.

Samuel’s kids were a mess, which left a leadership vacuum in Israel.  The people didn’t think right about God and therefore did not do right in God’s sight.  And all that created problems.

As a new leader, you enter a ministry or organization that has problems.  And those problems have created disappointment and maybe even despair among the people.   So they need leadership, but they really need your servant leadership.  They need you to listen, to seek to understand, and then to lead them with courage and good judgment.

Saul was appointed to help, but ultimately he created more problems than he inherited.  That’s always the result when leaders forget they are appointed to solve problems and serve people.

Your role may be spiritual but you will fight carnality.

Israel had big trouble because the people were big trouble.  The problems they experienced were not created in thin air.  They were the result of bad decisions and carnal patterns of behavior.

As a new leader, you have been called to lead other sinners…people who may be caught in sin or who have been influenced by the sin of others.  Your role is a spiritual one.  This is Kingdom work.  Darkness hates the light, which means leadership is always spiritual leadership.

The church leader Paul wrote, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 4:12).

King Saul thought his job was political or perhaps military in nature.  He had some success there, but the forces of darkness defeated him and jeopardized an entire people.

New leaders who operate in the flesh or according to natural resources will miss God’s activity, experience personal defeat, and lead the people into failure.

Your role may be celebrated but not everyone will be happy.

When Saul was inaugurated as king, many celebrated.  But “certain worthless men” silently despised him (1 Samuel 10:27).  Many people will applaud you as the new leader, but opposition will exist, even in silence.

Saul grew to love the accolades of men, but his grandson Solomon later wrote, “The fear of man is a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted” (Proverbs 29:25).

Leaders learn to deeply love people they serve, but the goal is not to produce happy people but to build a holy people.  And that requires a tenacious trust in a Holy God.

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Solomon had a real way with words that inspire husbands to express love and honor to their wives.  But sometimes Solomon’s words need a little modern day translation.  I hope this helps you celebrate Valentine’s Day:

Solomon: To me, my darling, you are like my mare among the chariots of Pharaoh—Song 1:10.

Translation: I think you’re really something special, and I can’t believe how blessed I am to have you as my very own.

Solomon: Like a lily among the thorns, so is my darling among the maidens—Song 2:2.

Translation: You’re better looking than all your friends combined.  If something happened to you, I would never think of marrying any of them…ever!

Solomon: Your hair is like a flock of goats that have descended from Mount Gilead—Song 4:1.

Translation: That new hair color looks so natural, just like before you ever needed to color it.

Solomon: Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn ewes which have come up from their washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost her young—Song 4:2.

Translation: That teeth-whitening treatment you wear to bed is really paying off.  I’m glad you still have all your teeth.

Solomon: How beautiful are your feet in sandals…Song 7:1.

Translation: The weekly pedi is worth every penny.  And I appreciate the cream you rub all over your feet every night too.

Solomon: The curves of your hips are like jewels, the work of the hands of an artist—Song 7:1b.

Translation: Have you been working out, because you’re looking smokin’ hot in that dress?

Solomon: Your navel is like a round goblet which never lacks mixed wine; your belly is like a heap of wheat fenced about with lilies—Song 7:2.

Translation: Say nothing.  Do not attempt to translate this.

Solomon: Your two breasts are like two fawns, two twins of a gazelle—Song 7:3.

Translation: Wow! Just Wow!  (And always avoid references to animals.)

Solomon: How beautiful and how delightful you are, my love, with all your charms—Song 7:6.

Translation: Go with that.

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There’s a big difference between being friendly and being a friend.  John wrote, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another”—1 John 4:11.

Steve Wingfield wrote, “Our love for God fuels our love for others.  Our passion for God is authenticated in our everyday friendships.”

Learning from Barnabas, Paul, John Mark, and Timothy here are four things every friend needs to know:

I like you.

Some people are tough to like.  But some people have no friends because they never find anyone good enough.

Barnabas was quick to like folks no one else wanted to take a chance on.  He valued Paul and John Mark before they could do anything for him.  That’s exactly what Jesus did for us.

Barnabas spent time with these men.  Someone has said that distance makes the heart grow fonder.  But in fact, distance makes the heart grow suspicious.  If we are going to like each other, we have to spend time together.  Jesus was a friend to sinners.  Did he like their habits and lifestyle?  I don’t think so.  But they liked each other because they spent time together.

And then remember Barnabas’ name means “son of encouragement.”  Solomon said, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones”—Proverbs 17:22.  Have you noticed we are closest to the people we laugh with the most?  That’s because laughter is good medicine.

I believe in you.

Barnabas didn’t just accept Paul and John Mark for who they were, but believed in who they would become.

A friend says, “I accept you just as you are, but I know the best is yet to come.  I see past your past and beyond what currently exists.  And I see what is possible.  My opinion of you is not held hostage to your shortcomings.”

Friends never allow the truth about us to erode the grace they show us.

I forgive you.

We don’t know everything that happened between Barnabas, Paul and John Mark, but we know their friendship included a level of disappointment that was no small thing.  While living for the Gospel, their relationship ran amuck.

Forgiveness is tough and it’s often a process, but here are a few reminders that can help:

(1) Forgiveness does not mean you don’t feel pain.

(2) Forgiveness does not require pointing out the offender’s faults.

(3) Forgiveness does not require teaching the offender a lesson.

(4) Forgiveness does not require you to compromise your core beliefs.

(5) Forgiveness does not let the offender “off the hook.”

So with the Cross in clear sight, forgiveness says, “By God’s grace I will absorb the consequences of your actions.”  What God has done for us in Christ Jesus paves the way for us to be a friend who forgives.

I need you.

As Paul approached his final days while in a Roman prison, he made several requests of his friend Timothy.  First he asked, “make every effort to come to me soon” (2 Timothy 4:9).  And then he said, bring Mark (John Mark) with you, “for he is useful to me for service” (2 Timothy 4:11).

After the ups and downs of life, Paul knew there were only a few things that he really needed.  He didn’t need his 401K, his home at the beach, or even a great reputation.  But he did need his friend John Mark.

The Close

I like rocking chairs.  They fit just right on a big porch and they slow me down to just the right speed.  Jesus would often recline with His disciples.  But we never read in Scripture where Jesus reclined alone.  He slowed down and built a relationship with these disciples that would last forever.  And in John 15 He called them “friends.”

Jesus has redeemed us out of sin and into a forever friendship with Holy God.  And now we express the Gospel like He did…by being a friend to sinners.

So who’s rocking with you?  Who’s hearing from you:  “I like you, I believe in you, I forgive you, I need you”?

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Our heroes are ordinary people who exercised extraordinary faith.  But when it’s our turn to trust God for something beyond ourselves, we often balk.  Here are 4 very logical reasons (excuses) not to trust God:

I can’t.

This was Moses’ first excuse when God called him to lead Israel from Egyptian bondage.  He asked, “Who am I, that I should go…”—Exodus 3:11. He could have said, “I’m just not qualified.  I’m just a shepherd now.  What do I know about rescuing millions of people?”  That seems like a responsible objection, right?  After all, Moses never led people, just sheep.  He simply did not have the credentials.  God should know better than to tap an out-of-touch, sketchy past, aging shepherd for such a big job.  So I can be sure God will not ask me to do something I am not qualified to do.

I’m afraid.

Moses left Egypt 40 years earlier in fear.  Why would he go back now?  What if his own people rejected him?  What if Pharaoh didn’t appreciate his new zeal for leadership?  These threats were real.  Moses’ life was vulnerable to attack.  So I should pay attention when I’m threatened.  Safety first, right?  I’m sure I read somewhere in the Bible that the safest place to be is in the will of God.  So God would never lead me into danger.  He would never ask me to put my life in harms way.  God never expects me to put my family or my fortune at risk.

People are against me.

Life was calm for Moses-the-shepherd.  Then God spoke to him and called him to a great task of rescuing Israel.  That sounded great…except that a rescue means the people holding the captives don’t want to let them go.  It may even mean the captives like captivity more than they should.  So before I get too excited about doing something great for God, I always consider the opinions of others first.  Maybe I should take a vote or do a survey just to be sure God is really calling me.  Opposition from others may reveal this “great work” is really not from God after all.

I might fail.

Moses was a successful shepherd in Midian.  He had the trust of his family and his peers.  But the prospect of convincing Pharaoh to allow him take the entire nation of Israel on a wilderness adventure didn’t seem very promising.  So before I leave my successful job or lifestyle to pursue the will of God, I make sure God has promised success.  God is a winner, so failure is not an option.  Besides, if I fail I make God look bad and I look like a real fool…and my reputation in the community is important to my witness.  So I never attempt anything that could possibly fail.  When God is in it, success is a sure thing.

I’ve used all of these excuses and more.  Please share  your own by clicking on the “Comment” button below.

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Leadership can be an incubator for corruption.  Positions of power test the most trusted, proven leader.

But we know that corruption is never a big deal, at least not at first.  Instead, it begins in the small, unseen places.  More specifically, it begins with a distorted view of ourselves.  Often a leader looks for his identity in the dangerous places of approval, power, and even entitlement.

In Paul’s opening sentence to the Romans, he identified himself in three ways that every leader or influencer should embrace with all our might.  These three attitudes reveal that after many years of successful ministry Paul still had a realistic, yet confident, view of himself that positioned him for lasting Kingdom impact.

The goals of others are more important than our own.

Paul called himself a “bond slave.”  That is a person who gives himself to the needs and interests of others with a practical disregard for his own personal priorities.  As much as we in ministry use this word, we practice it far too seldom.  Many of our followers are unconvinced we believe in them more than we believe in ourselves.  As much as they may love us and appreciate our efforts, they have stopped expecting this approach from us.

The servant-leader is becoming an endangered species and is being gradually replaced with the savior-leader.  This is the leader who believes he alone possesses the abilities, answers, and authority to captain the ship.  This leader-centered approach feeds our egos, discounts the insights of others, and releases team members from the responsibility to partner in the process.   And it is one small beginning to big time corruption.

The calling of God is a privilege to fulfill not a right to impose.

Paul said he was “called as an apostle.”  He still knew that God had invited him into this amazing Gospel enterprise.  Godly leaders never lose their sense of awe as an invited guest into the holy place of church leadership.  Never is it a simple vocation.  Never is it a mere profession.  Vocations and professions are driven by rights, policies, and org charts.  Structure is important, but if we are not careful spiritual leadership quickly turns into a position rather than a privilege.

The call of God is not merely a sanctified term we use to validate our job.  It is a reality for every credible leader.  We are not in service because God needs us to help Him out of a tight, or because our skill set meets the needs on the job description.  We are objects of God’s gracious initiative, which He took to demonstrate His glory.  Corruption will surely grow from a heart that believes anything else.

The appointment of God precisely positions us for greatest Gospel influence.

The term “set apart” refers to a specific assignment for a specific purpose.  God does not issue a generic call to ministry.  He has set each one apart for a very specific purpose to serve in a specific place at a specific time.  God was providential to raise up Esther for “such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).  He was providential to orchestrate Zaccheus’ encounter with the Lord Jesus.  And He is still providential in our appointment to service.

God’s providential activity does not call us to passivity, but it does call us to humble dependence on Him.  Paul’s downwardly mobile ministry assignments landed him in a dungeon prison.  And while he was captive, the Gospel was unleashed through him beyond all boundaries.

Grabbing for new rungs on the leadership ladder has caused many leaders to lose their grip and fall in a corrupt pursuit of more.  Man plans his way, but God directs His steps (Proverbs 16:9).

Corruption is never a big deal at first.  But whenever we normalize a distorted view of ourselves, high cost corruption is sure to follow.

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When it comes to sermons, how long is too long?  Some would say that depends on the skill of the preacher, or the appetite of the congregation.  Others would say it depends on the strength of the content.  Still others would say that no sermon in our day should last over ______ minutes.  You fill in the blank.  Personally, I just listened to an incredible 58-minute sermon from a prominent pastor.

But recently I read through what has been called the Minor Prophets and rediscovered there is nothing minor about these sermons from men of God who courageously preached the Word of God.  Historically, they are called “minor” because of their length.  Compared to Isaiah or Jeremiah, they are relatively short.

They may be short, but these transcribed sermons are not cute sound bites.  Instead they are pointed and powerful words that are just as relevant today as they were the day they were first delivered.  Here are four big lessons from my recent journey:

God is clear.

We can hear Micah’s volume rise, “Hear, O peoples, all of you; listen, O earth and all it contains…”—Micah 1:2a.  The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is not hiding from us and does not speak in code.  He has given us His Word and it is sufficient.  He is so clear that He said, “…And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God”—Micah 6:8.  God knows we need clarity.  So He gives it exactly where we need it.

God is unique.

“But the Lord is in His holy temple.  Let all the earth be silent before Him”—Habakkuk 2:20.  The holiness of God inspires awe among the peoples.  There is no one like Him.  He is not an idol to be handled by men.  Instead, He evokes speechlessness among those who revere Him.  This is one attribute of God marginalized by many modern evangelicals, but one that God will not allow us to forget for very long.

God is gracious.

When I think of the Old Testament prophets, I don’t naturally think of grace.  But that’s my fault.  These men cried out to an obstinate people to repent and partake in the grace of God.  God’s heart for Nineveh is clear in the book of Jonah.  He pleaded with His own people, “Return to Me, declares the Lord of hosts, that I may return to you, says the Lord of hosts”—Zechariah 1:3.  God is a God of second-chances, and He waits for us and then provides for our repentance.

God is just.

I’ve heard Tom Nelson, pastor of Denton Bible Church, say, “God is good, but He is not senile.”  In other words, God does not let evil go unchecked.  “And I will punish men who are stagnant in spirit, who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good or evil!’”—Zephaniah 1:12b.  If you’ve ever wondered if unjust men ever get their due, take heart.  God is not finished.  “Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts; and I will lift up your skirts over your face, and show to the nations your nakedness and to the kingdoms your disgrace”—Nahum 2:5.  Wow!  High-fives everywhere.  God crushes evil.

If you need a short sermon, the Minor Prophets may be just for you.  But beware.  Our sovereign God speaks in all His glory with might and mercy for a people who would not only hear Him and appreciate Him, but who would surrender to Him.

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Narcissism.  Vanity.  Conceit.  Arrogance.  Pride.  Those are familiar attitudes for most of us.  But before God does anything significant through us, He leads us through a process to kill the notion that our glory is any priority to Him at all.

No Average Joe Series

It had been over 20 years since Joseph had seen his brothers.  Despite the dream of his family bowing down to him, Joseph had no reason to expect to ever see his father or brothers again.  But widespread famine changed all of that.

Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?  And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us from that place, so that we may live and not die—Genesis 42:1-2.

So as the story goes, ten of Joseph’s eleven brothers traveled to Egypt to buy food, and soon bowed down to their brother who was in charge of selling all the available grain.  And although Joseph recognized them, they had no clue who he was.

One might think Joseph would have celebrated this unexpected turn of events.  Seriously, after all of these years, his dream came true.  His brothers were on their faces in front of him.   This was the gotcha moment he had waited for.

Sure, if this had happened 20 years ago, Joseph would have done a victory dance on the heads of his brothers.  But God spent many years and orchestrated an entire cast of characters in a complex drama to do something very important in Joseph.

So if your dream is delayed, here are some things God may want you to know:

The dream was never about you.

God promised Jacob several years earlier that nations would come from him (Genesis 35:11).  But at this point, they faced famine and extinction.  God’s plan was to preserve a people who would usher in the Messiah.  But for now they needed food to survive, and Joseph was in a place to provide for their future.  Whatever dream God has given you, it’s always about something bigger than you.

The dream must die first.

Jacob’s dream for his son Joseph died many years before.  Joseph’s dream was a distant memory.  It seems that before God promotes us to the front of His purposes, He must kill the pride of our hearts.  And He often does that by delaying or even killing the dream.  Joseph let it go.  So must we.

The dream will surprise you.

In killing our dream, God preserves us for a special work.  Although there is pride in our hearts that must be removed, God never breaks us beyond His grace.  While the dream seemed lost, God was with Joseph, empowered him, and elevated him to a position of usefulness.  So when Joseph saw his brothers bowing to him, he knew God was up to something bigger and better than he ever imagined before.

The dream challenges you first.

Joseph disguised himself.  After all these years, Joseph still needed more time.  I don’t know why, but I suspect he had some self-examination to do.  Perhaps he was overwhelmed with gratitude for the grace and mercy of God.  Whatever was going on, God challenged him.  When God resurrects the dream, He will test our character.

Joseph’s dream was not about Joseph at all.  It was ultimately about giving good news to the captives. It was about the glory of God displayed in foreign places.  It was about preserving a people for God’s own possession.  And God will do whatever necessary to refine and redefine our God-given dreams for that same end.

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As I write this, I’m sitting on an empty exit row on one of Deltas 319s at 30,000 feet above the planet flying home from an overseas mission project.  I’ve made journeys like this one at least annually since 1997; and everytime I go, God does a new work in me that far exceeds any work He does through me.

So why are these projects so important to me, and why should they be important to every Jesus-follower?  Very simply, short-term projects are more than trips.  We take trips to the beach.  We make a trip to the store.  The nations wait, but trips will never change the world.  Here’s why:

The nations are Jesus’ focus.

Jesus knew we were bent to be homebodies.  He knew we would not naturally think of people we did not know or understand.  He knew we would instinctively gravitate toward the familiar.  So voila, the Great Commission where Jesus clearly called our disciple-making to be global in its focus, reaching beyond national borders, ethnic boundaries, or language barriers.

The nations wait from home.

As we plan a mission project, we recruit believers who want to make a difference.  And so we get our shots, buy our hand-sanitizer, and secure our passport.  After months of preparation, we board an airplane and arrive on the foreign mission field.

But as foreign as it may be to us, that city, that neighborhood, that village is someone else’s home.  Most of the people I meet around the world are working hard to simply feed their families, maybe educate their kids, and make it through one more day.  Not only do they live in profound poverty and in many cases, isolation, but their hearts are spiritually darkened to the gospel and the effects of lostness are real. This is no trip for them.

And when we walk away, buy our souvenirs, and check our luggage for the homebound flight, the sun will set on them again.  But perhaps this sunset will be different than any other because the light of the gospel has come and penetrated darkness and Jesus has transformed hearts forever.  That’s not a trip.  That’s a gospel movement.

The nations awaken our consciences.

Everytime I take people with me to far away places, we are all overwhelmed by the spiritual and physical despair of the nations.  God has favored America, and that favor helps us carry the gospel around the world.

But the comforts and ideology of the West often sear our consciences and dampen our compassion for people who are beyond us.  So when we break out of our familiar environments, the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the vast need of others.  We see the faces, we smell the poverty, we hear the stories, we touch the pain, and then God produces in us a love for others we have never known before.  Trips don’t do that.

The nations simplify our lives.

The call of God, the mission of the church, the mandate for the every-day Jesus-follower has grown a bit complicated over the last 2000 years.  We attend conferences, we read blogs, and we develop ways to brand slogans and statements that will motivate people to follow Jesus.  And hopefully God uses some of these efforts.

But it just seems that simply obeying Jesus makes everything better.  In only a few words, Jesus defined the scope of our life’s work in Matthew 28 giving us a clear mission to make disciples of every people group on the planet.  As much as we attempt to baptize our activities and justify our behavior, much of our lives are consumed with priorities that are way outside of that mission.

So a disciple-making project to distant places reminds us of the everyday mission to develop growing, multiplying followers of Jesus in our own homes, neighborhoods, and cities.  And if it doesn’t cause us to reevaluate our priorities and recalibrate our lives to join God’s global work, it was just another trip.

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