"Just Show Up"

 

Jesus Knocking at the Door - Stjohn-stroudsburg

Every once in a while I run across someone who had a message that resonates with me. It's like getting a phone call or a doorbell rings and I not only pay attention, but find there's a reason I need to know this exists. One such phrase was "Just Show Up.' Then, when reading "Read a free chapter of my latest book "Just Show Up."👇on his X page, I found:

One is that we’re not called to change the world. God doesn’t require us to do something big and dramatic to fulfill His call on our lives. My younger self would be disappointed to hear that. But now it’s a relief. Saving the world sounds exhausting and I just don’t have the energy these days. Instead, God calls us to small acts of ordinary faithfulness. This kind of success doesn’t come in spite of life’s responsibilities and challenges, but in the midst of them. Even because of them. It might not change the world, but it does change us and the people around us.

May we take a few moments to give careful consideration as to what happened at Jesus birth, the thirty plus years He spent on earth, His death, burial and His never-before resurrection? Then consider what is said about His second coming. There may be a good message in here for all of us.

First of all, His birth. Shepherds watching their fields by night were the only ones mentioned in scripture to have heard the angels declaration:

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)

A few rather unimportant individuals were treated to heavenly voices that we would prostrate ourselves before God to have seen - and not one bit of news was carried around the countryside about this in any records found to date.

The parents, as Mosaic Law required, presented their child at the temple with the prerequisite offering - and discovered a couple of people already had the good news!

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. (Luke 2:26-32)

One man understood - and so did one woman. Two people in the temple, which was never lacking for attendees to be there, but no one else wrote of this. The memories of a mother written by a man after the death of her Son is all we have - and I do not doubt one word of these testimonies to our Lord's holiness.

Yes - Magi from the east were aware of the occurrence and traveled to Jerusalem to greet the new, but promised before, King of the Jews. They knew where to find Him - they thought. But they were wrong and needed a bit of redirection to where a young woman had given birth to her first child.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. (Matthew 2:3-8)

We have more detail here, the story is longer and a bit more specific - but only Matthew writes about this part. As part of the taxation portion of government, it is reasonable that he could have heard the story - but it is just as obvious that another large segment of the royal court had information. Add the death dealing by the soldiers, and the lack of historical references, this stands by the unbelieving as almost unbelievable. Oh, but it is believable. 

Now - why did one man's article on "Just Show Up" start me down this off-track writing? Because each one of these non-important people showed up in our Savior's birth story. Herod is the only King, the only "important" person (besides Mary and Joseph, of course) who believed that something extremely important happened. Their memories became part of Jesus' story before He even opened His mouth to share God's word.

Each person in these separate birth stories of Christ simply showed up, then shared what they had learned. Basically, His entire life is based on showing up, and sharing what is learned. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James, Jude - they all showed up and wrote down what I've been asking you to read. 

Actually, that's all Jesus asks us to do, isn't it? He had the power to change the entire world with one word - but He met people and spoke to them, one at a time more often than not. Why would we not consider that as following the command He gave:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Sometimes the go means only as far as a keyboard, or even a telephone. Because there will come a day when every knee will bow to Him, and everyone will see:

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16)