5.20-Shaking people loose and setting them on a collision course with Jesus

5.20-Shaking people loose and setting them on a collision course with Jesus

One of the principles of movements is that turmoil and uncertainty can be fertile soil for the Gospel. New challenges cause people to look for new solutions. So as we pray for movements of the Gospel around the globe, we often pray for happenings, both in the lives of individuals and within communities, that would shake people loose and set them on a collision course with Jesus.

The coronavirus would certainly constitute this sort of happening. As long-standing beliefs have shown themselves to be lacking and sources of security have crumbled beneath people’s feet, the situation is ripe for Jesus to step in and show people a new way — one that leads to life that is truly life.

Luke 13.

13 Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had ^[a]mixed with their sacrifices. ² And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? ³ I tell you, no, but unless you ^[b]repent, you will all likewise perish. ⁴ Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse ^[c]culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

⁶ And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. ⁷ And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree ^[d]without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ ⁸ And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; ⁹ and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”