Where Are You Staying?
Wake up a new person!
My in-laws visited us last weekend for the celebration of my son’s confirmation - so many of them that they stayed in the Holiday Inn Express down the road. On Saturday my father-in-law asked about the specifics of the Sunday service the next day. I jokingly told him, a talented and dedicated city administrator with not much public speaking experience, that he could preach if he’d like. He replied without missing a beat, “No problem. I’m staying at a Holiday Inn Express.” He had in mind the TV commercials for the hotel promoting the belief that any ordinary person who stays at a Holiday Inn Express will wake up the next day changed and able to perform new and extraordinary feats that nobody would expect.
So where did you stay last night? Probably at home, but that’s not what I’m asking. Where are you staying right now? It’s the same answer. I’m not thinking physically but spiritually. Let me put it another way: where are you remaining? Jesus tells us, “The one who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit” (John 15:5). As a believer in the resurrection you are staying in Jesus, and the Bible promotes the belief that any ordinary person who stays in Jesus rises from spiritual depravity, weakness, and ineffectiveness to be able to perform new and extraordinary feats that nobody would expect.
The Bible illustrates this fact with a story in Acts 8 where an angel sends Philip to chase down an African man, a eunuch from Ethiopia. This is not the apostle Philip, but the Philip who is chosen in Acts chapter 6 to wait on tables. Now, astonishingly, this busboy is transformed into a top notch Christian ambassador who explains the Bible to a foreigner.
How did that happen? This ordinary person stays in Jesus and consequently multiplies the effectiveness of his resources. Jesus uses Philip’s personality traits and skills that qualify him to serve the apostles waiting on tables, and works through those service-oriented traits and skills for the good of the kingdom.
(Mothers, pay attention here. Ordinary, service-oriented people attached to Jesus by faith are extraordinary people whose humble efforts Jesus turns into fruitful bounty! He promises!)
What are you good at? Knitting, lawn care, telling stories, computers, interior design, painting, data analysis, sales, praying for others, organizing, helping behind the scenes, playing an instrument? What kind of person are you? Introvert, extrovert, pessimist, optimist, controlling, permissive, early riser, night owl, health nut, beer gut, scholar, artist, passivist, activist? Whatever you like, and whoever you are, stay in Jesus tonight. Remain in him. Stay connected to his death and resurrection.
And tomorrow you might be surprised what extraordinary feats you and Jesus are able to do.
PRAYER: I need a place to stay, Jesus. Is there room in you? I need shelter from life’s storms, Jesus. Is there safety in you? I need to get away from it all, Jesus. Is there rest in you? I need to find forgiveness and acceptance. Is there mercy in you? I need help becoming a better person. Is there resurrection in you? Yes, you are there. I believe you are there. For me. Keep me in you, securely connected to you, and work in me to bear much fruit. Amen.