ON OUTCOMES

“Instead of a better life, we're offered a better hope of intimacy with God — a relationship that carries us through and not around pain and loss.”

-Peter K. Nelson

In 1 Timothy 1:15 we read, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.” Paul was certainly alluding to his own sordid past, but that’s not Scripture’s primary emphasis - here, or elsewhere. Instead, the Holy Spirit used Paul’s testimony to encourage Timothy (and future readers) to grapple with the harsh reality of personal brokenness, imperfection, and ongoing sin.

Nowhere in Scripture will you find any honest allusion to improved circumstances this side of eternity. Poverty, prison, and execution were the norm for Christ’s disciples. Before ascending to heaven, Jesus simply told His followers, “Therefore, considering what you’ve been brought through, disciple.” Jesus didn’t tell His friends to “make” anything. That’s the role of the Holy Spirit. Jesus didn’t promise improvement. He offers a new perspective. He offers hope.

Jesus neither promised His followers positive outcomes nor did He ever encourage anyone to focus on them. Deducing such conclusions from Scripture amounts to flawed teaching, understanding, or methodology. Instead, Jesus invites us into a relationship of desperate dependence upon Him. John the Baptist nailed it when he prophesied, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” We’ve forgotten the harvest only comes when Jesus returns.

If your personal or corporate faith-strategy involves making, building, achieving, expanding, or producing anything - the primary focus is misplaced. He didn’t come and die to fix our problems or to simply make us feel better about them.

Inviting people into a life-giving relationship with Christ is the exclusive point and goal of the Gospel. Enduring faithfulness is our joy, hope our fuel, and brokenness our blessing. Life never “works” when defined by outcomes rather than simply abiding in Christ. That reality is what allowed Paul, from prison, to write:

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

-Philippians 1:21

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com