“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” — John 17:25-26
I’m reminded of two boys on a bicycle. One day, these two boys were riding a bike built for two, and they came to a BIG steep hill. It took a great deal of struggle for the boys to complete what proved to be a very stiff climb. When they got to the top, the boy in front turned to the other and said, “Man that sure was a hard climb.” The boy in back replied, “Yes, and if I hadn’t kept the brakes on all the way, we would have certainly rolled down backward.”
I wonder how many of us have the brakes on with God. How many of us are working against God’s purpose for our lives?
We learned about the purpose for our lives when Jesus reached out and invited his 12 disciples. He simply said to them two words, “follow me.” This is exactly what Jesus is asking us to do. And like the disciples, we must take the brakes off and start reaching out and inviting others to know of his divine love, rather than excluding them.
In the life of Jesus and his ministry, he proclaimed a need for everyone: the sick, the poor, the hurting, the grieving and the oppressed. He even overturned social and religious traditions that condemned people. He refused to affirm traditions that excluded whole groups of people, such as the Gentiles and Samaritans.
Jesus was the model of compassionate leadership, bringing in those who had been scattered and alienated. He spent time with those who were shunned by society, teaching and preaching inclusiveness. It’s sad to say, but our churches today still wrestle with inclusiveness.
This is why Jesus reached out and invited the disciples to get to know him. Once Jesus’ love is made known in us — and we come to know him — we can change and transform the world.
Jesus made his love known to his disciples, and how they were to be reaching and inviting toward others before his crucifixion, but they failed to understand. As I think about it, what CEO would entrust such a project to an undistinguished group? However, after the resurrection, the project became clear.
And now, it’s our project, our purpose and our responsibility, along with the Church, to demonstrate this divine love. Jesus left the future of God’s work in the hands of his disciples, and now it is in our hands. So, I challenge you today: Start reaching and inviting the least and the lost — and remember to take the brakes off!
Rev. Marion J. Miller is the lead pastor of Later @ St. Luke’s, an evening multicultural worship service located at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 100 W. 86th St. Check out her webpage at stlukesumc.com/worship/LATER. She may also be contacted at (317) 846.3404 or millerm@stlukesumc.com.
