I have moved to God’s Waiting Room, Florida. The weather has been beautiful. Sunny, in the 70’s, slight breeze, perfect for sitting outside. I am told that this will not last into June, July and August. I believe what I am being told. But it is amazing how much cooler it is in the shade. If there is shade and a breeze, I think I can get used to it.
In our day of mega-churches, size can be important. Many very large churches started with only a handful of members and grew explosively to large congregations. Unfortunately, much of the growth came from sheep stealing, the practice of the luring believers from other congregations to the fancy building and multiple programs, especially the gymnasium and kids’ programs. The growth was artificial with a few conversions.
I love to watch swallows fly in a group. There will be hundreds of them swooping and swirling in a synchronized movement. They land in the tress and cover them, seemingly occupying every free space. Then for no apparent reason, they take off and swoop again. They appear as if they are one organism when they move. I came to appreciate their beauty when traveling in Italy. In the early evening they would be swooping across the dusky sky over the treetops and city roofs. It took my breath away in its beauty.
Our lowly mustard seed has become a very large plant, a surprising thing for such a small seed. Looking at the seed you can never imagine that birds could rest in any branches that could grow from such a small seed. And yet they do.
God takes something as small as words, simple words, and puts His power behind and in them and they change our lives in dramatic unexpected ways. He places His power in small words. The growth of this mustard seed is so explosive, so rapid, so unexpectedly out of proportion to the size of the seed that the growth has to be from God. This is like our spiritual life. When someone yields to the direction of the Holy Spirit, over time they grow to such a large extent that others can find rest in the shelter of the Gospel in them. It is the Gospel that provides the shade.
The Gospel provides shade for anyone who will perch in its branches. It started in a seemingly insignificant manner, in a way very unexpected to the people of Jesus day. It happened contrary to their hopes and dreams. It grew rapidly, almost out of control. It provided a place for every language and nation and people and tribe to come and find rest. It had been primarily focused on the Jews, but that was not the intent. The Jews never became the beacon of hope that the LORD had intended. There was always space for Gentiles in the LORD’s plan, but access was often restricted by the Jews.
Are we providing shelter for this range of people? Is your church active in opening its arms to those who are different than you? Is there an emphasis, and actions to follow, that demonstrate the far-reaching love of Jesus around the world today? Or do you tend to focus on those who happen to walk through the doors?
The branches of the Gospel should be open to everyone.
The Arnold Journey 