I am not a fan of interruptions. When I have a plan for how my day is going to go, and some person suddenly decides it's the perfect time to need something from me, I often respond grudgingly at best. I'm not sure it matters whether the plan involves work or rest--it's the fact that my plans must be waylaid in order to serve someone else. Like right now, as I'm sitting down to type this and my daughter thinks that's a great time to dump out the crayons all over the floor and feed them to the dog... excuse me while I interrupt this blog post to go clean up.
Aaaaand... we're back! As I was saying--now that the crayon-dumping munchkin is safely behind the bars of her crib--I am not a fan of interruptions. But we've been talking a lot about building community lately, and a rather necessary part of building true community is being willing to put your plans on hold to meet needs and serve others around you, even when it seems very inconvenient. It's a rather essential part of being able to truly love others, when we can put aside our own desires--without irritability--to care for them. As the Sara Groves song goes: "Love to me is when you put down that one more thing and say, 'I've got something better to do.'" It's essential for marriage; it's essential for parenthood; it's essential for fellow members of Christ's body; it's essential for our ability to love and serve the unbelievers around us.
And it's very hard. We are selfish creatures who would really rather get that one more thing done, or just have some peace and quiet to read a good book after a busy week, even if someone beside us is drowning.
But this is not so much a post about the how much I hate to be interrupted. It's more about a discovery I made this week as I was reading through Mark's Gospel.
Jesus got interrupted.
Maybe you've been aware of that fact for a while. But until this week, I think I've always had this idea in my head that as fully God, Jesus couldn't possibly know what it's like to be interrupted, because he always would have known what was coming. Apparently, not so. We don't understand all the ins-and-outs of how Jesus existed as fully God and fully man at the same time, but I've come across a few places now where Jesus plans one thing, and quite another happens. Take the feeding of the 5,000. It's a story we all know, but I had never before noticed the context of this miracle. This was the plan: The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. (Mothers, can I get a witness?!) And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.
So Jesus knows they all need a good meal and a nap, and he makes it happen, right? Um, well, actually, it looks more like this: Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:30-35). And the people are hungry, so he goes on to have his disciples--those guys who so badly needed to rest--distribute bread and fish to thousands of people, and oversee the clean-up afterwards! (Can you imagine the WORK?)
Jesus knows what it's like to have your plans changed on you. Jesus understands the temptation to go right on with your own plan, to say, "Come on, people! Haven't I served you enough lately? Go away and let me sleep!" He sympathizes because he's gone off for some time alone, hoping no one would notice him, and been interrupted by some foreign woman who won't leave off begging him to heal her demon-possessed daughter (Mark 7:24-25). When I want a little peace and quiet to write, and instead I have to go clean up someone else's crayon mess, I'm not facing something that Jesus never knew. There really is no temptation that is not common to man, Jesus included!
Yes, rest is good and needed. After all those 5,000+ people have full bellies and good teaching, Jesus does dismiss his disciples and go spend some quiet time alone in prayer. But there is also a place to set aside the necessities, to get a little less to eat for dinner because your neighbour dropped by at the last minute and you set an extra place at the table. There is a place to forego the nap, or the neatly folded laundry, or the "family only" movie night in order to show the love of Christ to another.
Somehow, the knowledge that Jesus has been right there with me in the interruption, has felt the inconvenience himself, gives me extra grace to push on through and serve others when I'd rather serve myself. After all, when he was faced with the temptation to run away and hide in the closet (or bathroom, or pick your place of secrecy), he had a stronger emotion that overcame the temptation: compassion. He saw the people around him, and they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he loved them. I am those people. You are those people. We were like sheep without a shepherd, and out of compassion for his lost sheep, he interrupted endless ages of being worshipped in splendour and enjoying all heaven's glories to come to this dirty, sin-filled earth to know hunger, and fatigue, and need, and to rescue his lost sheep from their shepherdless wandering. If Jesus did that, if he subjected himself to such an interruption, how can I not put aside my own pleasures and desires to serve his sheep, both those who are already found, and those who are yet lost? Indeed, Jesus subjected himself to such an interruption so that we might be given his perfect record of compassionate service, and so that we might receive the Holy Spirit who empowers us to joyfully set aside our plans and instead be a conduit of his compassionate love to others!
I'm not a fan of interruptions, but maybe I need to be, because interruptions are an opportunity to know the love of the Jesus who was interrupted for me.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Friday, February 08, 2013
Importunity
"And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, 'In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, "Give me justice against my adversary." For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, "Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming."' And the Lord said, 'Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?'" (Luke 18:1-8)
Persevering in prayer is hard.
As we've had several needs and concerns around us lately--some urgent, others not so much--I've become very aware of my own tendency to pray persistently about a particular issue for several days, maybe even a few weeks, and then to slowly drop off until before I know it, I'm seldom bringing it before God at all.
Sometimes it's because I start to doubt God's goodness and think maybe he doesn't care anymore, as if the One who sent his own Son into our world to die in my place and grant me his righteousness won't also graciously give me all other things that I need.
Sometimes it's because I start to doubt God's power, as if the One who created worlds with a word and breathes new life into bodies so dead they're decomposing can't possibly do anything about this difficult situation.
Other times, it's because I assume that today's "not yet" is tomorrow's "no", so I'd best just not bother God with this request anymore. After all, when my kids ask me for somthing over and over again till the cows come home, it makes me want to scream. Of course, sometimes that also makes me like the unrighteous judge who wants to give them what they want just to get them off my back. And if God is so much more merciful than that, why should I think he'll hold me off forever? In fact, if Jesus himself commands persistence in prayer, then any doubts I might have about whether God would rather I just shut it must be stilled.
And yes, sometimes it's just because I get bored. I get tired of asking again and again and again. And if I've already believed any of those other lies, even in the slightest, my resolve to press on gets very weak.
Jesus didn't tell his disciples to keep knocking and knocking and knocking on his Father's door because it was the natural and easy response. He told them never to give up because our tendency is so often precisely the opposite. But persistence comes with a promise. God does hear, he does care, he has all power, and he will give justice speedily.
"You have many other weapons to use with God in prayer, but our Saviour bids you not neglect this master, all-conquering instrument of importunity [that's bold persistence for modern English speakers]! God will be more easily moved than this unjust judge if only you are as importunate as this widow was. If you are sure it is a right thing for which you are asking, plead now! Plead at noon! Plead at night! Plead on--with cries and tears spread out your case! Put your arguments in order! Back up your pleas with reasons! Urge the precious blood of Jesus! Set the wounds of Christ before the Father's eyes! Bring out the atoning sacrifice--point to Calvary--enlist the crowned Prince, the Priest who stands at the right hand of God! And resolve in your very soul that if Zion does not flourish, if souls are not saved, if your family is not blessed, if your own zeal is not revived, you will die with the plea upon your lips and with the importunate wish upon your spirits!" -C.H. Spurgeon
Persevering in prayer is hard.
As we've had several needs and concerns around us lately--some urgent, others not so much--I've become very aware of my own tendency to pray persistently about a particular issue for several days, maybe even a few weeks, and then to slowly drop off until before I know it, I'm seldom bringing it before God at all.
Sometimes it's because I start to doubt God's goodness and think maybe he doesn't care anymore, as if the One who sent his own Son into our world to die in my place and grant me his righteousness won't also graciously give me all other things that I need.
Sometimes it's because I start to doubt God's power, as if the One who created worlds with a word and breathes new life into bodies so dead they're decomposing can't possibly do anything about this difficult situation.
Other times, it's because I assume that today's "not yet" is tomorrow's "no", so I'd best just not bother God with this request anymore. After all, when my kids ask me for somthing over and over again till the cows come home, it makes me want to scream. Of course, sometimes that also makes me like the unrighteous judge who wants to give them what they want just to get them off my back. And if God is so much more merciful than that, why should I think he'll hold me off forever? In fact, if Jesus himself commands persistence in prayer, then any doubts I might have about whether God would rather I just shut it must be stilled.
And yes, sometimes it's just because I get bored. I get tired of asking again and again and again. And if I've already believed any of those other lies, even in the slightest, my resolve to press on gets very weak.
Jesus didn't tell his disciples to keep knocking and knocking and knocking on his Father's door because it was the natural and easy response. He told them never to give up because our tendency is so often precisely the opposite. But persistence comes with a promise. God does hear, he does care, he has all power, and he will give justice speedily.
"You have many other weapons to use with God in prayer, but our Saviour bids you not neglect this master, all-conquering instrument of importunity [that's bold persistence for modern English speakers]! God will be more easily moved than this unjust judge if only you are as importunate as this widow was. If you are sure it is a right thing for which you are asking, plead now! Plead at noon! Plead at night! Plead on--with cries and tears spread out your case! Put your arguments in order! Back up your pleas with reasons! Urge the precious blood of Jesus! Set the wounds of Christ before the Father's eyes! Bring out the atoning sacrifice--point to Calvary--enlist the crowned Prince, the Priest who stands at the right hand of God! And resolve in your very soul that if Zion does not flourish, if souls are not saved, if your family is not blessed, if your own zeal is not revived, you will die with the plea upon your lips and with the importunate wish upon your spirits!" -C.H. Spurgeon
Sunday, February 03, 2013
Asking Big, Seeing Small
We have some big requests for our Heavenly Father right now. We're heading into several months of seriously reduced income due to my husband Nathan's upcoming knee surgery and recovery time, at the same time as we see some very large expenses on the horizon. We have some mountains that need to be moved. We are going to need miraculous provision. And so we've been praying for some very large things lately.
And we believe that God is fully able to provide exactly what we need, though when my mom told us that they were praying that God would answer our needs in such a way that there could be no doubt in our minds that it was His doing, I confess that I wasn't sure whether I liked that idea or not! Big answers have a way of keeping you in suspense till the last minute!
At any rate, on Tuesday, I took 5 puppies to the vet for their shots--the last step before they were ready to leave our house (!!!). Nevermind about how I managed to get them all there and back without losing one (or my mind)... I was anticipating a bill close to $400, because that is what the vet's office quoted me when I called about pricing several weeks ago. And I wasn't worried about that because we had built the cost of the shots into the puppy price. So when I went to the desk at the end, and the receptionist informed me that the bill was $152, I thought I'd misheard because I was too busy trying to make sure the dogs didn't run away while I searched for my credit card. I didn't check again until I had everyone back in the van, and there it was at the bottom of the receipt: $152. I ran through the charges and everything appeared to be in order, at which point I realized that we'd just made a little over $200 extra on these pupppies.
Now I can think of lots of things to do with $200! But it occurred to me on the way home that this was an answer to our prayer. $200 is not much in the face of thousands of dollars, but it is far more than nothing. And lots of 200s eventually add up to thousands. And then I thought: What if we don't need something astounding and "miraculous" so that we'll know that God has answered? What if we need instead to learn to see God's working in the small things? What if a really cheap vet bill is not just our lucky day, but the loving provision of our Father? What if coming away from Costco for $20 less than expected is not just my ability to be frugal, but one of many little answers of our good God to our big request?
It's hard to explain away a sudden $100,000 windfall. We know it is God at work when the cancer just disappears without treatment, or the rebellious child turns into a bold missionary overnight. We are good at praising God for the spectacular, the extraordinary. And we should ask in faith for huge things that only God can do, if it will bring Him glory.
But Lord, give us hearts that not only praise you when the mountain is cast headlong into the sea, but also eyes that see You moving the mountain one inch at a time and hearts that thank you for each tiny step along the way!
And we believe that God is fully able to provide exactly what we need, though when my mom told us that they were praying that God would answer our needs in such a way that there could be no doubt in our minds that it was His doing, I confess that I wasn't sure whether I liked that idea or not! Big answers have a way of keeping you in suspense till the last minute!
At any rate, on Tuesday, I took 5 puppies to the vet for their shots--the last step before they were ready to leave our house (!!!). Nevermind about how I managed to get them all there and back without losing one (or my mind)... I was anticipating a bill close to $400, because that is what the vet's office quoted me when I called about pricing several weeks ago. And I wasn't worried about that because we had built the cost of the shots into the puppy price. So when I went to the desk at the end, and the receptionist informed me that the bill was $152, I thought I'd misheard because I was too busy trying to make sure the dogs didn't run away while I searched for my credit card. I didn't check again until I had everyone back in the van, and there it was at the bottom of the receipt: $152. I ran through the charges and everything appeared to be in order, at which point I realized that we'd just made a little over $200 extra on these pupppies.
Now I can think of lots of things to do with $200! But it occurred to me on the way home that this was an answer to our prayer. $200 is not much in the face of thousands of dollars, but it is far more than nothing. And lots of 200s eventually add up to thousands. And then I thought: What if we don't need something astounding and "miraculous" so that we'll know that God has answered? What if we need instead to learn to see God's working in the small things? What if a really cheap vet bill is not just our lucky day, but the loving provision of our Father? What if coming away from Costco for $20 less than expected is not just my ability to be frugal, but one of many little answers of our good God to our big request?
It's hard to explain away a sudden $100,000 windfall. We know it is God at work when the cancer just disappears without treatment, or the rebellious child turns into a bold missionary overnight. We are good at praising God for the spectacular, the extraordinary. And we should ask in faith for huge things that only God can do, if it will bring Him glory.
But Lord, give us hearts that not only praise you when the mountain is cast headlong into the sea, but also eyes that see You moving the mountain one inch at a time and hearts that thank you for each tiny step along the way!
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