By Greg Yee, Superintendent, PacNWC
Part 4 of my reflections at year 10:
The traditional observance of Advent turns our hearts to remember the inconceivable arrival of God in human flesh. “God With Us” physically and relationally broke into human history, leading to the pinnacle of God’s redemptive story, headlining what Emmanuel accomplished on the cross for us and for the universe.
I pray that you will be overwhelmed in this season as you revisit these amazing truths. I pray that it breaks through cycles of inattention. I pray for godly repentance from our callous hearts and disbelief. I pray for us to find our way from where we have strayed to meet our ever-pursuing God. I pray that God would pour his grace upon us and prove to us that He is the only real and enduring refreshment for our weary spirits. I pray that God’s hope, joy, peace and love overwhelm our whole beings.
Jesus came 2000 years ago. Jesus coming again…maybe today! Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus, Come!
The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. (Lamentations 3:25)
While we wait on the Lord, Jesus calls us to go and make disciples. He wants us to share what we believe about Advent. He asks us to join him in what his Spirit is leading us into – making all things new – redemptive pathways, darkness to light.
I conclude my third and final 10th-anniversary reflection with this hope. I pray that all 71 of our churches would be indelibly marked by going and making disciples. I pray for a growing clarity and excitement about why Jesus coming to us is more important and fulfilling than anything else in life. A.W. Tozer challenges, “Only a disciple can make a disciple.” I pray that we are enthusiastically following Jesus. And in so doing, I pray that we would all regularly and earnestly pour into others. Jesus coming – are we going?
If we are not discipling others, are we following Jesus? I think it’s potentially a telling test for us about Christianity being a mere religion to us, versus a life-transforming, life-focus-clarifying call upon us.
There seems to be a lot of Christian activity but is there disciple making? We are too often characterized by convenient, easy beliefs. Too many small groups that have met together for years, even decades is a great gift and something to celebrate, but at what point are they misguided in thinking that they are disciple-making. Pouring a lot of time and energy into book studies and classes are so good, but how much is feeding already well-fed disciples and keeping them from being disciple makers? How do we move away from consumeristic faith and realize an ever growing pool of radical, sold-out disciples eagerly wanting to share more and more with others? I believe that we need to raise the bar of expectations for ourselves. I’m convicted that we need to double-down on God’s call upon us to be disciple makers or we will age in place and shrivel away.
It is through discipleship that our children will be shaped to be in the world but not of it. We have incredibly gifted and faithful leaders among us, doing the vital work of discipling a new generation of leaders. Lead and staff pastoral searches have been confronted by a national shortage of ministers. I believe that this is largely a discipleship issue.
I pray that in clarifying your commitments to Jesus as His birthday approaches, you will experience renewal. I pray that in leaning into Advent and the profound realities it reflects of God coming to us, that you will get a holy itch – a Holy Spirit stirring – and see who God is leading you to regularly pour into. Who might you disciple? How are you enfolding and growing people at your church?
If we’re not making disciples, what are we doing? If we’re not going, what is Jesus coming really mean?
Jesus coming was wholly disruptive. I pray for his holy disruption for us this Advent/Christmas. I love this paraphrase of
Be enthusiastic to serve the Lord, keeping your passion toward him boiling hot! Radiate with the glow of the Holy Spirit and let him fill you with excitement as you serve him. Romans 12:11 (TPT)
And I would further paraphrase, “let him fill you with excitement as you go and make disciples!” Advent/Christmas blessings dear friends!