Life’s Take Aways

In the midst of a busy week of ministry through our church’s mission trip to our city I received the news of a friends’ death.  He was my husband’s roommate in seminary and we had remained in contact with him for over 30 years, even traveling to his country several times to minister with him.  He was a humble servant of God and was constantly other-minded seeking the welfare of others before himself.  He died at the hands of terrorists, a present day martyr.  The news of his death was devastating and it shook me to the core.  Fear once again wanted to paralyze me, but instead I experienced a zeal to share the gospel rise up from my soul.  That evening after hearing this tragic news I had the opportunity to present the gospel to the ladies we were ministering to at our mission site.  By the end of our week of ministry three women prayed to receive Christ. 

As I reflected on the past week of ministry and grief I asked myself a question my sweet friend Vicky often asks after a Bible study, sermon or life event:  “What was my take-away?”  With this question on my mind I searched the Word to see how Jesus might have responded after a week like I had just experienced.  I was led to the fourteenth chapter of Matthew where Jesus was told of John the Baptist’s gruesome death. “Now when Jesus had heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities.  When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.”  (Matthew 14:13-14)  Jesus took time to grieve and to be alone with the Father, but once the need for ministry arose He went right back to the people who were in need.  Take away:  Grief over the loss of a fellow servant of God fuels our passion and urgency to minister to those who are living in deep need. 

After ministering all day to this large crowd of people Jesus beckoned the disciples to provide the crowd of 5000 people something to eat.  After the disciples had rounded up five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus blessed the food and the people were served more than they needed, with leftovers!  Then Matthew writes that Jesus “immediately” made the disciples get into a boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while he sent the crowd away.  Then Jesus, after a day of grief and ministry, sought time alone to pray.  Take away: After long days of grief and ministry time alone to pray is essential. 

While Jesus was praying, the disciples’ boat had sailed a long way from Him and was being battered by the waves because of a storm.  Jesus went to them by walking on the water, but when they saw Him, they thought they were seeing a ghost coming to them on the water.  They cried out in fear, but Jesus, the scripture says, “immediately spoke to them saying, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”  This was the second time Jesus took immediate action with His disciples.  Take away:  Whenever we cry out in fear, Jesus immediately offers us courage.

Peter, after seeing Jesus walk on the water, said “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”    Jesus said, “Come.”  Peter stepped out of the boat into the waves and as he focused on Jesus he walked on the water, but once the wind strengthened fear came over him and he began to sink and cried out, “Lord save me!”  For the third time in this passage, Jesus took immediate control of the situation by reaching out for Peter’s hand, holding him up above the waves.  Take away:  When we lose courage and give in to fear, Jesus immediately holds us up over the chaos and uncertainty. 

God has a Word for you in your grief and in your busy days of ministering to those around you.  Here are my four take aways from such a week:  

• Grief over the loss of a fellow servant of God fuels our passion and urgency to minister to those who are living in deep need.  
• After long days of grief and ministry time alone to pray is essential. 
• Whenever we cry out in fear, Jesus immediately offers us courage.  
• When we lose courage and give in to fear, Jesus immediately holds us up over the chaos and uncertainty.
  

My prayer is that when you are faced with grief in the midst of ministry passion for the gospel will be refueled, your time with the Father will bring refreshment and whenever you cry out in fear Jesus will immediately provide courage and carry you safely through the storm. 

What’s your take away?

Nancy