Spiritual Growth 07/08/2011
 
I joined the elders this morning as we prayed for our teens and adults heading to Tennessee for their summer mission project.  They had to be at the church by 5:30 a.m. so they could leave at 6:00 a.m.  What else would lure 22 teens and adults out of bed this early on a pleasant summer morning?  They’ll drive 600 miles today and sleep on the floor of a church and get back into the van and do it again on Saturday so they arrive in Morristown, TN in the afternoon on Sunday.  While they’re on the project, it is hard to say what will happen.
They’ll do a number of activities and service projects all designed to give them an opportunity to serve people in the name of Christ and to build some new relationships.  Hopefully some of those folks will ask, “Why did you come here?” which will give them an opportunity to tell their new friends about the love of God for them.

As excited as I am about what they will accomplish, I am even more excited about what may happen in the lives of our students and in their relationship with God.  I’ve found that while on a mission project, God will put us in situations where we have to rely upon Him.  Sometimes it is a flat tire.  It may be having to talk to a stranger.  We are waiting around for our ride and it’s an hour late. Often times these“God events” come when things seem to be going wrong, when we have no other options, when there is a break down in our plan or schedule, when our strength is gone or when we believe that it is impossible for us.  And yet, the opportunity is great and God has something wonderful planned for us.

When these kinds of things happen, it is NOT time for us to dig a little deeper; instead it is time to turn to Him who is more than able.  We need to cry out to God asking for strength and wisdom; for the right words; and for His love to shine through us.  
 
When He answers those prayers, when we see Him at work through us, around us, and sometimes despite us—our trust in Him and our relationship with Him grows.  It is a wonderful time of drawing closer to God and very encouraging to our faith.

Why does this seem to happen regularly on the mission field but rarely at home?  I think it is because we rarely step out of our comfort zone at home.  We don’t sign up to do things at church that we don’t feel qualified to do.  We usually play it safe and take very little risk.  Why would God need to show up if we have it all under control?  

I encourage you to take a “spiritual risk” this summer.  Attempt to build a relationship for God with someone you’ve never talked about spiritual things with.  Try to serve God in a new fashion, something a bit out of your comfort zone.  Go into it prayerfully and having asked God for wisdom every step of the way.  
 
I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how God will step in and gave you the right words, and enable you to accomplish something for Him.  You might not lead any one to Christ; but you will have helped them move one step closer to a relationship with God.

Remember how good it felt when you were a kid and you decided to jump off of the high dive for the first time? Your heart raced and your hands got a bit sweaty on the way up the ladder; but it felt so good and you felt so alive when your head broke the surface of the water after you jumped. Take a spiritual risk and jump in the deep end.  It will amaze you how spiritually alive you feel when you’ve accomplished that.  Anyone can keep doing what they’ve always done. It doesn’t take any special talent or ability to maintain the status quo(that’s like wearing water wings and dog paddling in the shallow end).  Do something risky for Jesus.  Do something that is either sink or swim.  Don’t limit yourself to your own abilities.  Remember that Jesus can walk on water and He is your spiritual lifeguard. He’ll be right there helping you to learn to swim in the deep end. 
 


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