Overflow: How the Joy of the Trinity Inspires Our Mission by Michael Reeves

Author:Michael Reeves [Reeves, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Religion, Christian Living, Personal Growth, Christian Ministry, Evangelism, Christian Theology, General
ISBN: 9780802422613
Google: tNI4zgEACAAJ
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Published: 2021-11-15T00:12:51.121522+00:00

HE DWELLS OUTSIDE THE CITY

I have been sharing so many Scriptures with you that are on my heart. May I take you to another? It is one that reminds us of something important about Jesus. In Hebrews 13:12, we read, “Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.” Jesus endured a bloody execution outside the gates of Jerusalem, on the hill known as the Place of the Skull where the Romans crucified people beside the main road. What is important about this? It shows us that Jesus was willing to go—of His own free will, though He was taken by the soldiers—beyond the comfortable place, the place of homes and safety and civic life. He went beyond where the people of God are to a place of exclusion and shame. And He did this to make God’s people holy through His own blood.

What is our response? Let us also go to Him outside the gate. Where is He to be found? Not on the inside where things are tame and quiet. No, the Lord Jesus is “out there.” You only find Him by going out, not when you’re comfortable and sitting back. Jesus is the one who went out first, in love for you. And the Christian life consists of being where He is. Going outside where it’s risky. Going to the place of rejection, where there are crosses and trash heaps and bandits and tombs. All of that is what was outside ancient Roman cities. And yet Jesus went there willingly. So should we.

I would like to take you to another Scripture: Matthew 9:36–38, which is a famous mission passage. I want you to notice how weird this is. It’s familiar to us, but also weird when you think about it. “When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore”—here’s the strange part—“pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” Why is that weird? Because it’s Jesus Christ, the Son of God—so why does He have to get help from others through praying? Wouldn’t just one simple prayer of the Lord be far more effective than all their prayers combined? So who cares if they pray? Why doesn’t He just pray for this Himself?

The answer, of course, is that He wants them to join Him. He wants them to be coworkers, fellow participants in the divine life, sharing His loving, compassionate, outgoing life. He wants us to join with Him in leaving the city and going out to the fields of harvest. And that is what makes the difference between reluctant or self-motivated mission that will fail, and joy-filled, grateful, joining-in mission. Cooperation with God’s great purposes—not duty—is what makes the difference.

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