We can say whatever we want, but its understood by what we do.
OK so I have a bit of a confession to make. I have this goal as a youth worker to make a difference on a public school campus. I even went down to the local high school, filled out my back ground check forms, and got my picture taken for an ID. I have this fancy ID in my wallet right now in my pocket. But here's the problem. I haven't used it yet. I went in and got the ID and now I haven't been back to the school. How ridicuous is that! Part of it has to do with my full schedule to be sure. I look at my calendar and try to figure out a day when I can spend lunch on campus and I just don't have the time.
There is also something intimidating to me about entering a school I'm not sure I'm welcome in and not sure where to go or what to do when I go there. It is so easy to walk on to the campus of our christian school. I'm expected there, the kids and teachers say high, and the principal buys me lunch once a week when I show up. I'm also not the best at just striking up conversations within a crowd. Small talk really isn't my thing. I just can't think of anything to say. Sometimes is goes great and then others I just feel awkward.
The thing is, I have been saying for four years now, we need to love on the kids in the public schools and not just our private schools. I can say it all I want, I could even make a mission statement out of it. If I don't actually do it, saying it doesn't accomplish anything.
This paradigm is what I love about the mission of Jesus when he came to this earth. In Luke chapter 4 he makes two different statements about his mission. The first in is quoting the prophet Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” The second time he says it a little more concise, But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
He can say these things all he wants, but does he back them up? Yes the rest of the chapter is filled with the stories of him setting the captives of demon possession free, healing the sick, and teaching in the synagogues. The chapter even starts with his one on one fight with the Devil in the wilderness. The kingdom of heaven is at hand, it has invaded the kingdom of this world, and Jesus is taking Satan head on.
I wonder what I will do today. I wonder what today will look like and out of all the options I have for the ways I could spend my time which ones will I choose? Will they be inline with what I say is important to me? Will I love on my family? Will I fulfill my personal mission statement in someway? Do I have the right mission statement? Do I actually know what I want to say and do?
Rob Bell tells the story of his son playing on the beach picking up fragments of shells. As the stroll along the beach they see a star fish just waiting to be plucked from the water. He goes out into the water to pick it up but comes back without it. Rob encourages him to go get it. He tries again and again returns without it. Rob asks him why he hasn't gotten the starfish and his son replies,"My hands are full of shells."
What is it we have said we are going to do? What are the things we have said yes too? What are the things we have declared to be out mission in life? Are we actually doing them? Do our actions fulfill our mission as Jesus' actions fulfilled his mission?
I pray today that we would not only do the things we say we are going to do and fulfill the values we claim. I pray that we would also say the things most important for us to do. Jesus had his mission, he withdrew to a solitary place to confirm his mission with his Father and then he carried it out. He fulfilled it with his actions.
May we do the same.
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