If you’ve ever needed proof that God’s thinking is not the way the world thinks, here it is. Just read the story of the great commission and be amazed:

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” (Matthew 28: 16-20, CEB)

The big bosses of the world would say Jesus assembled a mediocre sales force. And not just that, Jesus had already lost 8.3% of his team even before he has started! With that kind of retention rate, he should have no one left by Thanksgiving. But God’s ways are different.

No CEO in this world would accept doubters in his workforce. How can this mission hope to succeed when some are doubting from the get-go? Here they have got the risen Christ in their midst and yet they already have doubts. And yet Jesus seems quite content with doubters. He is entrusting his mission to worshipful doubters. In the business mindset, this is stupid. But God’s ways are different.

Also, the marketing strategy of Jesus was all wrong. Go everywhere, disciplize everybody! The wisdom of the world would say needless drain of resources! But God’s ways are different.

Jesus does not fire us for being mediocre apprentices, doubtful worshippers but instead, he loves us, forgives us, heals us and frees us. Then he sends us to do so to others. The world promises you a lot but never delivers. But God’s ways are different.

Our worth is determined by what Christ was willing to do for us and that in him we have an unlimited and unchanging source of meaning and purpose. Who we are in Christ is not shaped by what we do but by what Jesus did on the cross and continues to do in our lives and through our lives. The world wants only our credentials. But God’s ways are different.

God’s mission is about God. How he has prepared the way back to him. How he has promised to be with us until the end of the world. How he has promised to equip and empower us to do this work. God’s mission is not about us. The world focuses only on our abilities. But God’s ways are different.

 

Gracious God,
Thank you that your ways are different than the ways of the world.
Thank you that you love us so much
that you’ve prepared the way back to you.
Thank you that you are calling us
to partner with you in your mission.
Thank you that you have an awesome plan
for each of us and for the world.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How have you found God’s ways to be different?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you embrace what God’s doing for you/through you!

Giving thanks today for
#421 God’s ways are different than the world’s ways
#422 God ways are better than our ways
#423 God knows us inside out
#424 God loves us more than we know
#425 God sees us as we are (and still loves us!)
#426 God uses us if we are available
#427 God has a plan for each of us
#428 God has a plan for the whole world
#429 We can rest in His grace
#430 God will always be with us
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Image courtesy of ochristian.com. Linking up today with Sharing His Beauty & Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday & Soli Deo Gloria &