I will follow you Lord, but....

You know this work caper has been quite invigorating in many ways. I have enjoyed the challenge of trying to pick up a job and figuring out how it works best for me and the Kingdom. I have been trying to work out to use the hours available and the best routes to work.
Undoubtedly there are 2 things that stand out so far.
Firstly, it has been a wake up call as to what God is doing in the world. Day after day I come across something else fantastic that has happened to further the kingdom. I hear of a visa that has been granted, a relationship formed out of the blue, the most unexpected response to the gospel. Even today, I heard of a man from Nepal, living in Sydney, who became a Christian just 3 weeks ago. His wife and family are back in Nepal. After speaking with her husband over the phone, she wants to become a Christian too! When you think things may be slow in your neck of the woods, God is still at work in the most unexpected ways. We must keep faith and rejoice in what is happening elsewhere. We need to open up our horizons and not limit God.

Secondly, I have had the opportunity to meet some fantastic people. These are people who have either just come back from missions overseas or are enquiring about going overseas. They have been touched by God in such a way that they are prepared to not worry about what the cost may be; to not worry about what others may say; they’re not looking back, but looking forward.
I have been challenged and humbled as I speak to them. They are not concerned about their superannuation or job promotions. A new car is just a waste of money to them. They have taken Jesus at his word. In Luke 9 when Jesus ask a man to follow him, we get this recorded for us: 9 Jesus said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." 62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Very challenging words indeed. Rick Warren says that we in today’s society should replace Jesus' words in v61 to say something like – ‘first let me get my kids a good education’, or ‘first let me get my super up to date, or buy a house, or finish my degree…’
There is a seriousness to Jesus’ words that cut right to the bone don’t they?
It would do us all good to reflect on what are we holding onto that is keeping us from mission. This is not necessarily talking about mission in some hard place overseas, but rather what is stopping us from serving in mission in our street, in our job, or in our home. Waiting doesn’t seem to be something on Jesus’ agenda. Today is the day of salvation.