Bible Verse: “With God all things are possible.” (Matt 19:26)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 19:16-30
“Please take me back to Iran; there is a Satanic lullaby over America, and I can feel myself falling asleep.”[1]
An American man had married an Iranian woman. They’d served the exploding Church in Iran together. If you sat down for coffee with them, you’d hear stories of persecution, huge numbers coming to Christ, persecution, miracles, daring steps of obedience, and, did I mention, persecution?
The danger was extreme, eventually leading them to go to America. After several months, the wife begged her husband to take her back to Iran.
She preferred the danger of persecution to the lullaby of affluence, individualism, comfort and control.
It’s hard to follow Jesus in the West.
The pull to lower our voices and neuter our lives is intense. We are enticed rather than opposed. Jesus warned that worries, riches, and pleasures would suffocate the faith of many (Mark 4).
It’s hard to follow Jesus in the West.
We’re rich by any global standard, but most of us can’t find a way to tithe.
We have good news, but most of us are too busy, distracted or comfortable to share it.
We don’t see many miracles. We don’t see many conversions. We have little time for God or each other.
Disciples and churches alike go through moments and seasons of openness, hunger, and wakefulness. We know there is more and long for it. Yet we so easily and quickly fall asleep again.
It’s hard to follow Jesus in the West.
We read, “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). What if we wake up and seek Him together? What if we place our calendars, bank accounts, attachments and words at His disposal? What if we seek first the Kingdom and prioritize God’s mission?
Like a patient Father with a teenager, God is waiting for His Church in the West to wake from our Saturday morning slumber, join Him at His table, and then get to the work of the day with Him.
We rightly conclude that He’ll challenge our affluence, individualism, comfort and control. However, we shouldn’t fear this. He is the way, truth and life (John 14:6), not the wrecker of lives. He says, “I’ve told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).
Are you/we awake?
Prayer: Lord, help us to see ourselves, this world, and You in truth. Revive our churches and empower us to follow You where we are. Raise up a faithful people once again. Amen.
Reflection: Which part of this devotional most strikes you, and which part challenges or disturbs you? Why do you think that is?
[1] Paraphrase of talk from IF gathering on discipleship in the Middle East.
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