What Moves You?

 

What Moves You?

We were driving to visit a family who had lost their father.  The car was one of the most expensive cars I had ridden in.  It was quiet and well equipped.  It had leather seats and a video display screen that showed a map of the road.  The stereo system was truly amazing.  The driver was a follower of Jesus who had been through a hard three week trip to a poor country to teach about Jesus to adults and children.  These were people who had not been exposed to disciples of Jesus from America. 

My friend and I went to the home of the couple who had lost their father and they weren’t home, perhaps at the funeral home.  As we drove there and back I asked my him about the events in his recent days that had truly moved him.  He had great trauma going on health-wise in his family.  He had twelve suicides among his family and friends.  He is a successful businessman who has 100’s of friends in Denver. 

He repeated my question  “What has moved me lately?”

“My trip to be with those people in camp in Ukraine.  A four year old boy stole my heart.  He was so afraid that at first he wouldn’t shake my hand.  His mom taught him to hold out his hand to me.  We became the best of friends.  He would claw my back.  He had such fun with me.  Many of the children made me a paper bracelet to remember them.  Of course they wouldn’t last so I found this simple silver bracelet that I wear every day to remind me to work harder to live a simple life.  Being with those adults and children in that camp transformed by life.  What is the importance of my house and my stuff and this nice car?  Means nothing compared with following Jesus and helping the people I can help.”

I remember my reading from Jesus today and some bullet points from reading Luke 14.

-Focus on helping people. Do not get bogged down in religious extremism.  Religious ritual can be toxic.  Be careful.

-Take low places of service.  This sets up opportunity for growth and joy.

-Do not exalt yourself.

-Invite the poor, crippled, lame and blind into your life.

- Don’t be surprised if some turn down your invitation at times.

-Put Jesus first in your life in order to be a disciple.  Before  father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sister and even your own life. 

-You must carry your cross and follow Jesus. 

-Reflect on the cost of discipleship and decide if you are really ready to pay the price.

- You must surrender everything to be a disciple.

-Be a salty speaker.  Call people out.  Challenge your hearers to hear the heart of Jesus.

Thanks to my brother friend for reminding me of what had “moved” him in the last month.  Serving in uncomfortable circumstances to help people.

Luke 14.
Larry Wishard