by Ken Locke

Created on: November 12, 2008

"What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?" Matthew 11:7b

Jesus didn't call us to walk out into the desert to see a circus act. He didn't want those people to go out for fun and see the wild man's crazy, interesting show. Stay home instead; don't waste your time. However, Jesus said, if you want to change your life, come see my servant John. Don't stand in the wind and sway with the crowd and don't come out here to admire the scenery. Come out to the River Jordan to walk with me, embrace me, be cleansed of 'before', and sing of the 'after' that we can all be.

That verse is Jesus talking about John the Baptist. He was speaking to all the people who were watching John do his baptizing, right before Jesus himself received baptism. Jesus wondered if they understood what the big spectacle was. Why did you all walk all the way out here? What's the big deal? What has torn you away from the TV, computer, or movie theater?

As we walk around the world, our heads are often not in the game. When we are paying attention, we are looking out for ourselves. Shouldn't we be trying harder to trust God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit with the big picture? Time after time, our thoughts lead to how we're going to solve our problems, rather than what God is going to do through us. He sends us on a path that does Him and the world some good and that is much more important than our comfort level.

It's like reading a book while you are driving. It's technically possible, but a pretty bad idea. God wants us to be in the moment. Computers can multi-task, waitresses can multi-task, and 911 operators can handle many calls at once. We actually multi-task all the time without realizing it; our subconscious deals with tough issues like what shirt to wear, which shoes match, what the answer to number 20 on the test was. While that happens, though, our forebrain is speaking with our friends, parents, and teachers, giving a lecture, or answering number 21 on the test.

Those actions our forebrain deals with are where Jesus is telling us to live. He wants us fully focused on our life in him. Although it appears differently in all of us, when we are living as Jesus calls us to live, we honor God with everything we do.

All the time, our thoughts and actions should filter through the cloth of Christ. Have you ever strained orange juice? The pulp is the same color as juice, from the same fruit, yet cannot pass through the sieve. Likewise, our actions all originate within ourselves, but not all of them are what we want to drink.

Group discussion questions:

1. What things do you do today that mirrors the crowd that came to see 'reeds swaying in the wind'?

2. Where is the River Jordan for us today? Where do we go to see Jesus and change our life?

3. Without naming names, who do you know that is a spectator? Is a servant of Jesus?

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