Is It Worth the Trouble?
“Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox” Proverbs 14:4.
The goal of an on mission disciple of Christ is a harvest of changed lives and transformed relationships. The goal of a casual Christian is a safe, comfortable, inspirational, clean life. Casual Christianity may be popular and prevailing because of the mess that being on mission will create. IS IT WORTH IT? If you believe that hell is real and that sin and addiction and poverty and worldliness wreck peoples lives and that the gospel is the answer. Yes. If you believe that God’s top priority for you is a clean stable. No.
What does the on mission disciples stable look like? It may look like exhaustion from serving people not like you, books piled high from digging into peoples honest questions, late nights and long conversations, a broken heart over the plight of people’s lives, stress over people who initially respond to grace but turn back and go their own way, the home not as a refuge but as a safe haven for seekers and strangers, instead of work to play, work to provide and be generous.
In the Great Commission we don’t have the assurance of a clean stable, but of Christ’s presence with us. He was willing to pay the price. Now he sends us. A harvest of change lives will be costly and messy. I don’t want to settle for clean.
Posted on March 14, 2011, in Discipleship. Bookmark the permalink. 1 Comment.
Lane Corley 
I have reached out again to my sisters this past week. I appreciate this post on a messy stable. I am exhausted and continue to serve and love those God has called me to help. I have been abused again and am lonely. Thank you for the consolation that God is with me in this mess. They know I love them but don’t know how or don’t want to change yet. I keep planting seeds. One of my sisters came to church with me last Wednesday night. She had her probation revoked on Thursday morning and is jail. She said “God has forsaken me” so we went to church together. I believe in miracles. Her husband who fell from a 30 ft roof and broke his back came home to an empty house but strong and walking up-right. Thank you for your miracles Lord, your will be done.