1/28/11
Yesterday in my Greek exegesis class, the professor gave some touching words to preface the rest of the class. We examined the words in John 20:21. “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” A simple statement with such profound depth and truth. We reflected on Jesus' words. What did he mean by the first phrase, 'as the Father has sent me.' How did the Father send the Son? The professor remarked that Jesus came as a Jewish carpenter and came to bring Salvation primarily to the Jewish nation. Then he related it to the role missionaries have in leaving their Western culture and lifestyle at home before going to the mission field. The example he shared was Hudson Taylor. Many people criticized him for dressing like the Chinese people. He would braid his hair, wear traditional Chinese clothes, and try as much as possible to be as Chinese as he could.
As the professor brought that example, I began to think about my youth ministry. Being a young pastor (almost 24), you would think that I have no trouble relating to junior and senior high school students. However, the past eight-months has revealed that I have a lot of humbling to do. Going to their level and experiencing the life of this special phase in life is an important task in youth ministry. God has steadily been showing me that I still have a lot of abandoning to do if I want to be a faithful witness to the students at my church.
If Jesus Christ, the one whom all things were made, humbled himself of the heavenly glory to save the whole world, how can I not imitate His sacrificial life? The other day I heard from a sermon that Christians are simply unworthy servants. I oftentimes forget that I am undeserving of the grace of knowing God. God has revealed the truth to my blind eyes and saved me from sin and death. May I never take that for granted, but thank the Lord all the rest of my days. Heavenly Father, take my life and do what you please. I am nothing but an unworthy servant. Mold me and make me into your Son's image. Empower me with the fullness of your Spirit. My life is yours because it was purchased with the blood of Jesus. Amen.
