I Am Disturbed
(08/13/03)
Greetings to the Church That Meets at Betsy's House,
Well I'm sure that many of you who know me will readily agree with the title of this letter. You might say that at least he's finally admitting it!!
To that I would say a hearty amen and even add that being disturbed is good. Not only is it good it is essential and those who are not disturbed are the ones who are really missing out.
Recently, and regularly, I might add, I was given a question by a good brother that "disturbed" me. The question was not antagonistic, although that can be just as good. It raised a question in my mind. It made me think about just what it was that I believed. It roused me from my apathy of the moment and stirred me up.
In Deuteronomy 32:10-12 we read this about how the Most High dealt with his favored nation, Israel. "In the desert land He found him (Israel), in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions. The Lord alone led him; no foreign god was with him."
What a picture of just how the Lord dealt with his fledging nation, those that were the "apple of his eye"!
Did He leave them alone in the desert waste and hope that they would find their way? Did He provide a comfortable life and give them all the things that would make them feel all wonderful and secure while in that "howling waste"?
No, indeed!!! He never allowed complacency, apathy and their ability to adapt to the misery of their situation to exist for very long. He, like the eagle, stirred up the nest.
The same is true for us as believers today. May I refer you to II Timothy 4:2 where Paul was giving instructions to his young charge with the words "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction."
I don't know about you but words like "correct, rebuke and encourage" are not words that lend themselves to the idea of maintaining the status quo. They are words that disturb to change not continue on in the same way. I'm reminded of the definition of insanity. "Keep on doing what you've been doing and expect different results", now that is truly insane.
The sad reality is that once we are disturbed we often seek for a way to immediately restore equilibrium and return to our former state. The "Word" should disturb us, wake us from our sleep and rouse us to action not cause us to run and hide. As believers we often, when disturbed, seek out people who will help reinforce our previous way of thinking and acting rather than truly examining what it was that challenged us.
We have come to believe, with the world's and Satan's help, that the goal of life for the Church, the Body of Christ, is to be on this placid sea of good feelings. Anything, or anyone, who throws a pebble on our pond is to be avoided or, at the very least, disregarded. The Church of today seeks for those who will give them comfortable messages of comfort when all around them is a Church in confusion, turmoil or apathy. We are led to believe that all there is to being a believer is salvation. We are fond of saying "all that counts is that I know where I will spend eternity". Salvation is wonderful and the beginning. Remember it is just that, "a beginning". We are constantly being encouraged by our Father to go on to maturity. He desires that we become grown ups in Christ and thus fulfill His purpose for us.
So let me close by saying, yes, I am frequently, almost always, disturbed and I'm very, very glad of it. It is evidence that my Father loves me and cares for me. It seldom feels good while I am in the process but it always yields results that are deeply satisfying. I am led into more and more light by the One who truly loves me and cares for me.
Some would see me, and others like me, as unstable because I am always being changed. They would observe that you never know what to expect from me. I'm fond of what Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, espoused as his way of doing business. He said that whenever he was faced with a decision it was "ready, fire, aim". Get started and allow God to make the corrections as we are currently engaged in following Him. Don't wait till you have all the answers, God will "rebuke, correct and encourage", as we go.
In His Love,
Tomme
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