He Trusts Me

I have been dwelling a bit as of late on this one line. Words I believe I heard Jesus speak to my heart a couple weeks ago. This idea that He has given me the assignment of carrying His Gospel message out into the world because He trusts me.

I remember when I felt Him whisper this and it's as if the very words pierced my soul.

I sobbed.

Because when you've been entrusted with such a radically important message from a radically grace-filled God, you desire to do everything in your power to not disappoint, and to steward well the opportunity you've been given.

It brought me to utter tears to think of me... as being trustworthy with such a task!

Jesus is recorded in John 20 as speaking to His disciples following His death and resurrection. Overcome with fear, the students of Jesus were meeting together behind locked doors when scripture tells us that, "suddenly Jesus was standing there among them! 'Peace be with you.' He said." (verse 19)

As He spoke He showed them His wounds to prove that He was the Jesus they had served alongside of and loved, and immediately they were filled with joy.

Again He spoke to them and said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you." (verse 21)

Breathing His Holy Spirit upon them He spoke again, "If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (verse 23)

Wow.

I remember when I read that and thought, SUCH responsibility the students of Christ had been given.

Ahh... but thinking a bit further my thoughts went to, WOW. SUCH responsibility I, a student of Christ, have been given.

Of course we have no right to forgive others of sins. It is the blood of Jesus alone that does that. But we have been given the authority, as Jesus' sent ones, to proclaim the Gospel message to those who don't yet know. And if we refuse to go... reject our assignment... then people living outside of His grace will have no opportunity to receive it.

And then I am returned to that thought: He speaks to me, reveals Himself to me, and has given me this assignment...

Because He trusts me.

He trusts me with Him.

And I reflect a bit on the verses.

Jesus appears to them, like He does to me:

- willingly

- when they fear-filled

- when they were meeting together thinking of Him and talking about Him

He:

- stood in their mess

- speaks peace over their problem

- reveals proof of His presence (wounds)

- opens up the scriptures

Our response should be:

- deep and passionate awe

- overwhelming grace

- complete joy

- profound commitment and contribution

I have been given much - not because I am worthy of much - but because He trusts that which He has placed inside me. When God sees me... when He sees you... He sees His perfect Son, and He sees the gift of His Holy Spirit we possess.

And He trusts the work we are more than capable of carrying out because of the resurrected power inside us.

We have a mission.

We have an assignment.

Bring His world to this world until this world looks like His.

And we do that in partnership with the Spirit.

He's assigned me the task because He trusts me.

How will we focus today on making our daddy proud?