One would think that to be a world impactor there would of necessity be information, accumulation, and destination; know your subject, gather pertinent tactics, and set out on mission. One would think. And thus, we who regard ourselves as mission-minded are able to take note of similar personal concepts in our faith walk.
Yet, there is another factor that's incredibly significant.
When Jesus was sent from Heaven to earth to begin his mission, it was key that he first become an infant. Yes, he was a man to be built from the ground up, so to speak. This is where we replicas of him fight our biggest inner contest. We do not want to appear vulnerable. So? We have traded the nakedness of an infant for the appearance of being equipped with knowledge.
Yes! That's how we will tackle the world! We will not approach society vulnerable as in an infant! We will impress with our knowledge! Therefore, the spiritual drive experiences shut-down because education was never the driving force. Vulnerability and the willingness to try anyway has always been the secret approach to impacting the world.
Basically, we don't believe it. Let me say that again. Basically, we DON'T BELIEVE it. The lack of faith is the game-changer when it comes to spreading the Gospel.
The way to break through on mission--on impacting mission--is through the standard of infancy at heart. Humility. Dependence. Hunger to learn. Directable. Ears that hear. Receptive. Defenseless. Moldable. Pliable.
A baby is vulnerable times 100. It is this single route the God chose to save us. Indeed, He would voluntarily become a person. But more than becoming a person, which would seem to be humiliating enough, He became a baby person; can't walk, can't talk, can't convince, can't persuade.
This isn't the route I was hoping He would take for me. I was more inclined to think that when I gained a more complete set of answers that it would be at that time that I was equipped to evangelize. But one evening in a one-on-one Bible study He unlocked an imprisoning door. I learned to say to the couple I was trying to teach, I don't know. Surprise to me, their hearts opened even wider to me. My lack was the secret to their eventual conversion.
Your secret to impacting the world will never be more than the secret Jesus knew. Being inadequate seems to be a welcome mat to seekers. Jesus didn't hit earth in cap, gown, and degree. He hit it with inability to speak, inadequacy to plan, a diaper, and a bale of straw.
Go. Figure. the. Wisdom. of. God....and then...Enter. In.
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