The Greeter and the Welcome Mat
An amazing fact about the ministry of Jesus is He released people to be who they were created to be. He released their genius. In three and one half-short years, He turned His former ‘misfit toy’ disciples into the most extraordinary agents of change the world has ever seen. He sent His leaders out unencumbered, free from the emotional and physical clutter that had them entrapped for years. He kept it simple so everyone could understand. He didn’t disqualify them, even when they left Him near the end of His ministry here on earth.
He helped people face their ‘unfaceables’ like fear, inadequacy, shame, unworthiness, and guilt-riddled past. It takes a special person to do that. But Jesus was up to the task. He understands there is a little bit of crazy in us, yet He didn’t judge us for that. Look at his disciples. That is quite a Board of Directors. The hated and despised IRS of that time and the Hell's Angels of that time were on His team. Haven't you ever heard of Matthew, the taxman, and John and James, the Sons of Thunder? They sound like members of a motorcycle gang to me.
Jesus made people feel welcome. He spread the welcome mat out for prodigal sons and wounded Samaritans. The Bible says Jesus went out to prepare a place for people like that. And do you know what that means? There is a place for us there, too. In this, He shows us His excitement for our homecoming with Him. Remember the prodigal son? Talk about a welcome! “And when his father saw him, he ran to meet him.” Luke 15:20.
You see, Jesus wants to release us from the prisons of past guilt, present boredom, and future anxiety. He wants us firing on all eight cylinders. Jesus knows that is what will make us effective and happy. He wants us unencumbered. Jesus wants to release our genius. He wants us to be free from the ghosts of the past and prepared for whatever the future may hold.
Jesus always has a welcome mat out for us. He leaves the lights on for us if we want to return home. All He ever tries to do is to put us in a position to succeed. That’s true today and tomorrow.
Jesus brought the solution to rid people of the ghosts and guilt of their past. He brought God’s love into their world. God’s love changed everything. God’s love is more significant and robust than anything the IRS of that time or the Sons of Thunder could do. God’s love is stronger than anything guilt can do. As the formerly imprisoned from the past received God’s love, that love busted the ghosts of the ‘would-a, should-a, could-a’s.’ When they stopped living the problem and started living the solution, the problem went away.
The scriptures say it this way. "But, God being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have seen saved) and raised us with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, so that in the age to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-7.
You see, you and I are the ages to come. What Jesus did for them, He can do for us too! Jesus still goes to prepare a place for us, even if there is a little crazy in us. You know the verse. “For God so loved the world (us) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.
Let me repeat it. When we stop living the problem and start living the solution, the problem goes away. For example, in the Bible, Cain killed his brother and still didn’t become the accepted one. Pulling people down will never raise you up. That is living the solution. Having your trust broken can be life-altering, but it doesn’t have to be life-ruining. Believing this truth is living the solution. Here’s another living-the-solution idea. When you’re sad, sing, and then you realize your voice is worse than your problem. I tried to sneak this one in for some of you.
Let’s finish with six things mentally tough people do. I found this on the internet. 1. Mentally strong people move on. They don’t waste time feeling sorry for themselves. 2. Mentally strong people embrace change. They welcome challenges. They grow through it, not just go through it. 3. Mentally strong people stay happy. They don’t waste energy on things they can’t control.
4. Mentally strong people are willing to take calculated risks. They are willing to step up, step out, and enter the next chapter of their lives. 5. Mentally strong people seek education and wisdom from experts for their issues. 6. Mentally strong people invest in themselves and their future. Growth is stepping over things you used to trip on.
People everywhere want things to return to normal. God wants everyone to return to Jesus and will leave the light on for you.
Ed Delph/October 21, 2024/CCC