Happy New Year!
St. Petersburg has been experiencing some welcome sunshine and some unwelcome COLD temperatures. Three weeks into the holiday break, I am looking forward to the tropical temperatures of the Philippines and will be in Davao in less than a week.
In the future, I will continue to blog about adventures in the Philippines and Russia and also would like to share more about the realities and truths that are challenging me. I hope that you will join in the dialogue and I pray that Jesus will challenge you to take a closer look at Him with fresh eyes and an open heart.
I have been following the blog of a promising leader of the 20’s-30’s generation for quite some time now. Something Glenn Packiam said in a recent post stands out to me –
“Perhaps influence in itself is not evil. But neither is it automatically a tool in God’s hands. In fact, “reaching the world” may have little to do with super-individuals and influential leaders. It might just have more to do with quiet faithfulness and simple obedience.”
Since arriving in St. Petersburg, Russia, last August; the idea of living a simple, faithful and obedient life has been the focal point of Christ’s work in me. In my assignment as an English teacher at a Russian university, I am not in a position to make a name for myself or for the cause of “Christendom”. Out of respect for the desires of the university and to protect the Christian organization and the people that I work with, I really cannot speak of Christ or directly refer to the Bible or truths of Christianity in the classroom. In my world, it is the acts of quiet faithfulness and simple obedience that communicate Jesus to my students. Unfortunately, those acts are too few and far between.
Quiet faithfulness and simple obedience do not allow me to say “Look at my accomplishments, my wisdom, my talents, my intelligence, and my potential!” They do not allow opportunity for pursuit of the fame or influence or significance or wealth – the things that we have been taught are our destiny if we just follow our dreams, and our birthright because we from the right country. Jesus offers us promises of blessing and significance in His kingdom that are quite different from the promises of our culture.
Shortcuts to Influence and Living Upside Down
Satan offered Jesus a shortcut to fame, significance and influence (Matthew 4:1-13). Thankfully, Jesus turned it down and showed us a better way – quiet faithfulness and simple obedience. How many times, with the best intention of bringing attention to God and results for the Kingdom, have we taken the shortcut and accomplished exactly the opposite by gaining attention or recognition for our agenda, our talents, our church/organization and our good works?
In Matthew 5-7, Jesus steps away from parables and preaches a sermon that confounded His listeners at the time and is still a matter of debate among pastors, teachers and theologians more than 2,000 years later.
Again, Jesus teaches us through His words and life that there is a better way. First, Jesus shows us the law and raises the bar proving that there is no way to God through the law, only through HIM. Then Jesus shows us a life that is upside down in comparison to the culture that is inside and outside of our church walls.
What would a life of quiet faithfulness and simple obedience look like to you? What is He teaching you about His better way and what does that mean for you in the new year?
Grace and Peace in Christ
Note: Glenn Packiam is a pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs. (Click here for Glenn’s blog) He is also a great songwriter and a former member of Desperation Band. Glenn’s recent post is entitled “Famous Ones: Is Influence Overrated?” (Click here to read)
Such truth Allen! I have often felt that the “greatness” of a leader (in the eyes of men) may be determined by entirely the wrong criteria. It strikes me that very few biblical heroes ever asked questions like “will I be remembered for this?” or “how can I become a great/famous leader?”
I suppose there are exceptions to this, but on the whole, truly great leaders find themselves asking questions like: “is this the right thing to do” or, “does God approve of my actions” and the answers to those question almost inevitably lead to obscurity because they bring glory and honor to another. Another far greater than we, who truly deserves all honor, glory, and power, and to whom one day, every knee shall bow and tongue shall confess that “He is Lord” regardless of how “great” they were in this life.
“The first shall be last and the last shall be first”