The Jesus Film

We were headed to a beach in Florida, twelve hours away. I had a thick new book to consume me, chase away the tedium and drown out the kids after 47 games of Uno. After the first few pages I began to complain aloud, “This is the dumbest woman, this is the most ridiculous dialogue, the worst writing. I can’t believe I chose this book.”

Finally, sick of hearing my comments, my husband gave me his book since he was driving and said, “Ok, read this but you need to give it back to me when we get there.” I finished it at 3 a.m. He did not get it back when we got there. I don’t think I even helped unpack the car.

I’m reading that kind of book now. The name of it is Radical by David Platt.

I’d read some verses in Acts a few weeks prior. They stood out. I wrote them down. They didn’t connect with anything then but it’s something how everything gradually starts to fit together. Every time it happens, I’m amazed. Every time. The verses have begun to fit with this book.

Paul was stopped by Jesus on the road to Damascus on his way to arrest and kill Christians. “ A light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. We all fell down and I heard a voice from heaven saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to fight against my will.’”

Paul asks, “Who are you ,sir?”

And the Lord replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Now stand up. For I have appeared to you as my servant and my witness. You are to tell the world about this experience and about other times I will appear to you.” (Acts 26:13-16 NLT)

My servant and my witness.

We tell our kids God loves them. He does. Unconditionally. That’s ground floor. There is a whole skyscraper above ground floor. He didn’t just call Paul into relationship with Himself so Paul would feel loved. He called him for a purpose.

He calls us into relationship with Himself….because He loves us. But the object, the purpose of his calling is the same for us that it was for Paul… to be His servant and to be His witness.

His servant to obey His will. Not my will, His will. Not my ideas, His ideas. His responsibility is to make his will crystal clear. Mine is to listen to what he says and to obey.

We are to be a witness of a living God intersecting with our daily lives, of a Word that is so relevant, of peace and joy that surpass understanding. Our witness brings Him honor and glory.

We always think big things. Big obedience like God calling us to the Sudan or Russia to be a witness. Nope…for most of us, that will not happen.

It’s in the little mundane things we are to practice obedience. And I used to say the reason for that was because when we learn He’s faithful in all the little things, we’ll trust Him in the big things…which is true. Like David taking out a lion and a bear...seeing God come through so when he faced a giant, it was no big deal. Same trust, same God, different level.

But there’s another aspect to this too. When we are obedient, we begin to see that the little things lead down a path that lead to bigger things that we are totally unaware of until….later. And we would have missed a glorious opportunity to see God work on an even bigger platform had we not been obedient in the little things which were actually leading up to it.

Over the years we’ve supported a project called The Jesus Film. The original was in English and produced in the 70’s. It has now been translated to hundreds of languages and has been shown all over the world. Periodically they hold a briefing so people can see what they are doing. It is by invitation. I have been invited. Several times. Last time I actually mulled it over before I threw it away…even responded to tell them I wasn’t coming.

I just got another. They are held twice a year I think. This time I knew God wanted me to go. Not one doubt I was supposed to go. I looked on the calendar at the date this was being held and this will sound incredibly superficial and I’m sorry…I apologize in advance but October is right in the middle of football season. I know you are shaking your head but you know what? God knows I’m right smack in the middle of SEC football and you know when this event is? On the one weekend this fall that we have an open date! Who gets the last laugh…I can’t believe it. It’s scheduled during a bye week! I don’t even have to make a choice and give up a football game for Jesus!

We have 38,000 frequent flier miles with Delta. In the last few trips we’ve made, we’ve not been able to purchase a ticket for 38,000 miles…they all have required at least 50,000. This briefing is in Milwaukee….a long way from the South so it should require at least 50,000 miles. But the way this was headed I would have bet the mortgage that Milwaukee wasn’t going to require 50,000 miles. I put in Milwaukee, I put in our frequent flier number, my finger was poised above enter and I’m smiling like a Cheshire cat because I KNOW what it’s going to say!

Bingo…32,500. You bet.

Next up is my husband. He does not know about any of this. This will be a solo trip. But at this point, I just can’t wait until God says, “Ok, run it by him now.” I’ll lay it all out and then sit there with a grin on my face, almost laughing because I know what he’ll say…it’s almost comical!

Now what should he say to my sweet little southern voice saying , “Honey, I want to go to Milwaukee to this briefing about a film they’re showing about Jesus?” Narrowed eyes will peer at me. “Ooooookay. Milwaukee. Do you know where that is? Can’t you just go to our church? It’s just 10 miles away. They’re talking about Him there too.”

“Nope, I need to go to Milwaukee.”

Why? I have absolutely no idea. I so do not know where this is leading. But God is the master, I am the servant. When He starts putting travel plans together and times it during a bye week, putting it in a town that only requires the amount of frequent flier miles I have, something’s up. I need to pack. I need to look at this in great anticipation of a new revelation of who he is, a new opportunity, or just awed that he wants to bless me with a weekend listening to what He is doing all over the world. Only He knows.

Isn’t that just so nice? And I’ll come back a witness to the greatness and glory of our God….a big God doing things in countries I have never even heard of. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to give witness to…all of us? The greatness and glory of our God?

As the new school year begins, the weather breaks, a cool wind appears (we all desperately hope), we need to look afresh at our whole purpose for being here. It is not to sign up for 10 things to make his name known. But to tune in and listen to his voice and obey what he tells us to do knowing he has a marvelous plan with a part that I’m supposed to play.

And we do not want to miss out on any of it.

P.S. Tonight I said sweetly, “Honey, I want to go to Milwaukee in October to this briefing about a film they’re showing about Jesus?” And he said….are you ready? “Sounds like a great idea…why don’t you take a couple of girlfriends along with you.” Thirty six years of hard work on this man has paid off, ladies!