THE OTHERS

Alone by Norbert Eder

"...Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight."
-Hebrews 11:32b-34

Ministry can often feel like you're alone in the wilderness. It can be an unforgiving meat grinder. I’m not just talking about “professional” ministry, but all legit ministry by legit ministers of the Gospel. I’m talking about soccer moms, on-the-road dads, teens, seniors, lay-ministers, teachers, pastors, professors… people neck deep in ministry - period.

One thing I’ve learned in ministry is the horrific danger associated with our own expectations and outcomes. When you read Hebrews 11:32-34, it sounds awesome; conquering kingdoms, administering justice, gaining promises, shutting the mouths of lions, quenching raging fires, escaping the sword, mighty in battle, and putting foreign armies to flight! That’s the kind of stuff seminaries put on their brochures!

The problem: most of us never bother to absorb the stuff following in Hebrews 11:35b-38.

“...Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were shorn in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.”

Nobody jumps out of their seat to sign up to be imprisoned, mocked, flogged, stoned, sawn in two… to be destitute, oppressed, mistreated, homeless, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. That’s the stuff they leave out of the brochures.

When the reality of ministry strikes and things get ugly... when the mockers begin to blurt out, when the gossips and slanderers sling their toxic sludge, when you go to bed and wake up feeling like you’ve been run through the meat grinder… it's time to remember the heroes of faith never got to choose their category. Some conquered kingdoms; others hid in holes.

Entitlement is the plight of ministry. Praying the prayer of Jabez doesn’t guarantee the Lord will enlarge your territory. It does, however, always guarantee His territory will be enlarged in and through us “by faith.”

How were the “others” able to endure? They focused on gaining a “better resurrection” by faith.

If you’ve found yourself in a situation more like those mocked, flogged, stoned, sawn in two, destitute, oppressed, mistreated, and struggling in ministry. It’s not a mistake; it’s a privilege. Unlike those whom the writer of Hebrews mentions, “did not yet receive what was promised,” we have. We’ve received Christ. We’ve received the gift of faith and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

What does this season of ministry look like for you? Are you conquering kingdoms or living in a hole? Are you putting foreign armies to flight or refusing release from prison? Few are blessed with storybook ministries. For most, it looks more like “the others.” Just know you’re not alone. Many came before. Many will come after. We all have the promise of a better resurrection. We have all received the fullness of all God’s promises in Christ.

Don’t quit. Press on. Persevere! Don’t worry about tomorrow. Be faithful to the ministry He’s given you today at all costs.

I’ll see you, and all “the others,” topside.

Thank you, David, for the encouragement and inspiration to write this.

Blessings,
-Kevin M. Kelley
aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com

ROUND TRIP

Exhausting. That would be an appropriate feeling regarding the journey of the magi from Matthew chapter 2.

As it turns out, nowhere in Scripture does it state there were three of them. It doesn’t say they arrived at Jesus’ birth, but rather that they “saw His star in the east.” Scripture doesn’t tell us they were kings. The Greek term is μάγοι, which is most accurately translated “magi.”

Scripture doesn’t tell us exactly where they were from, but after worshipping Jesus and outwitting Herod, they began a journey home. Herod was so outraged after being duped, he ordered the massacre of all the little boys in-and-around Bethlehem age two and under “in keeping with the time he learned from the magi.”

It appears these magi likely traveled up to two years to come and worship the little boy Jesus. They were “overjoyed beyond measure,” and lavished gifts upon the Lord after falling to their knees in humble submission, i.e. worship. Then, as quickly as they arrived, they vanished. About two years of travel for just one brief opportunity of authentic worship. Then they began the long journey back home… four years - round trip!

Meanwhile, the elite religious types - the chief priests and scribes - did nothing. There’s no record of their watching the skies, traveling, sacrificing, bowing, submitting, or worshipping. They had all the info but did nothing with it. We know this because when Herod asked them, “Where would the Messiah be born?” Their immediate response was, “In Bethlehem of Judea.”

Knowledge without action isn’t wisdom. It’s the folly of sin.

The religious folks banked everything on their being biological descendants of Abraham. They felt no real need to do anything in their minds. There was no real sense of urgency for those souls still held captive to sin’s curse. Instead, the intoxicating allure of the flesh, job security, comfort, and positions of power… those “real” and “immediate” needs were/are far more pressing than the incarnation of Messiah and worshipping Him.

Searching might come across as being fanatical… waiting, nonsensical… sacrificing, terribly inconvenient. Meanwhile, the magi embarked upon a two-year journey for an opportunity.

Funny how we’ll plot, scheme, and camp out - literally - for weeks or even months at a time for concert tickets, closeout sales, and bargain basement deals; but when it comes to the authentic worship of Jesus, the one who died that terrible and beautiful death, we’re more like the elite religious sycophants than the magi. Where our heart is, there our treasures will be also.

We change churches when the music isn’t to our liking. We sit at home with arms folded and steam rising from our heads when the service times become inconvenient. We misquote Scripture and spew our Christianese to justify and validate virtually anything from “holy” wars to gay marriage to ignoring the lost. We perpetually bail fellowship in search of easier pastures and spoon-fed religion that tickles our ears.

We head for the hills when rebuked, corrected, or lovingly challenged by church leadership or are asked to sign covenant membership agreements that actually spell out convictions and responsibilities as a follower of Christ. We make it about the signing, when we're perfectly okay signing our name to mortgages and automobiles we cannot afford, products we shouldn't buy, and our idols we love to worship.

Some of us even rip the eject handle when our vote simply isn’t in the majority. Then we justify it all - gossiping to our friends, "Yeah, those people at that church... Wow! Can you believe it?" Funny, it just seems to follow us wherever we go.

Jesus is revealed as the incarnate new Genesis covenant fulfillment in Matthew 1. Chapter 2 is a condensed and concise picture of Matthew’s call for the Christian life: Worship and disciple!

There are only two categories of people; 1) the blind, proud, idolatrous insiders - selfish power-hungry fools who've chosen the serpent as their daddy, and 2) the outsiders from far away in the east (the direction humanity was cast out from Eden) who recognize their depravity by God’s grace, repent of their sin, call out in hopeless desperation, see His star, risk everything and embark on any journey in hopes of one moment of authentic worship at Messiah’s feet before getting back to the business and mission of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Worship and disciple.

When we stop and consider the round trip journey, can we honestly say that’s how much we love Jesus? Can we honestly say that we ARE willing? Are we selling and abandoning everything for Him? Am I risking life and limb for Him? Am I currently giving up the rights to every aspect and facet of my life in every minute of every day for Him?

Does my life look more like that of the magi - a four-year round trip - or more like that of the elite religious types; too busy, too proud, and too secure to bother lifting a finger? Am I filled with knowledge and information that’s going nowhere and doing nothing for God’s glory? Am I willing to make that trip for one brief moment of authentic worship - one that begins with repentance? The magi were, and they were never the same. Those who truly encounter Him never are.

Are you ready for a round trip?

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com

ARE YOU CERTAIN

Matthew’s Gospel
Chapter 1: CERTAINTY

REALITY - The book of Matthew begins in the original Greek, “Βίβλος γενέσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ...” when translated reads: biblos (scroll/book), of genesis (beginning/origin), of Jesus (Greek form of Joshua), Christ (Greek form of Messiah). What we see from the opening verse, actually the first two words, Matthew is presenting much more than a mere genealogy or ancestral record. Matthew is an expert literary craftsman. Jesus is the incarnate new “genesis” anticipated ever since the catastrophic events of Eden. Jesus, God, has always been the exclusive reality, but now the covenantal King has arrived in the flesh, as prophesied, son of David (2 Sam 7), and son of Abraham (Gen 12:3). We can be CERTAIN Jesus is the exclusive reality; He has come, at great cost (Rev 13:8), to make that reality universally known. (See Dale C. Allison Jr's book, Studies in Matthew, for more).

HISTORY - At first glance, the ancestral line of David might appear impressive; Abraham (the original covenantal patriarch), Jacob (the original Israel), Judah (the tribe of the Gen 49:10 blessing), David (the great king of Israel), Solomon (the wisest man to ever live!)... but upon deeper investigation, it seems Matthew’s goal isn’t to paint a peerless or fantastic family portrait; Matthew includes harlots, liars, thieves, adulterers, idolaters, murderers, and at least one baby-killer in Jesus’ ancestral record. We can be CERTAIN that we don’t need better circumstances, better parents, a better education, or a better financial situation. Matthew skillfully demonstrates that regardless of circumstances and opportunities, sin effectively and comprehensively corrupts us all. We can be CERTAIN that since Adam, sin is, was, and will always be our exclusive identity - apart from Christ.

NECESSITY - Simply stated, we need Christ. We’ve always needed Him - even before sin entered into the picture (John 1:4). Desperate dependency is NOT relegated exclusively to sinners separated from Christ; it is the exclusive reality for everyone at all times. Jesus isn’t “merely” our redeemer. He is the Eternal Son, the Christ. Jesus is worthy of all honor, glory, praise, and worship… even if He had never come… even if He had never gone to Calvary. We can be CERTAIN we desperately need Jesus - not just to save us (one and done), but at every moment of every day for all eternity.

OPPORTUNITY - The angel of the Lord instructed Joseph, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus…” Then, the angel of the Lord clarifies by stating, “because He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew has carefully crafted this opening chapter to point out Jesus is our New Beginning (genesis) because of humanity’s universal and fatal corruption. Matthew has masterfully demonstrated the absolute necessity for us to yield everything in absolute surrender to the rightful King of Eternity. Then, in the subtle statement, “He will save His people from their sins,” Matthew identifies the certainty of a limited time opportunity. Jesus is only going to save “His people from their sins.” We can be CERTAIN that if we aren’t completely yielded and surrendered to Christ and His mission - we will not be saved from our sins.

RESPONDABILITY - Not a typo. Respondability. It is our ability to respond. Joseph heard what the angel of the Lord said, therefore, when he woke, Joseph did as the angel “commanded.” When the word of the Lord comes - it isn’t a suggestion, a positive approach, good idea, or something we should file away to entertain when we have time. When God speaks to us it is always a command requiring immediate action. We can be CERTAIN our ability to respond is what best demonstrates whether or not we truly are either “His people,” or those who choose to remain in their sins eternally separated from God.

Are you CERTAIN?

Blessings,
Kevin M. Kelley
aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com