mur-c-mi

Musings on the Vow & the Incarnation of Christ

Last month when I was in the U.K. I was so blessed to attend the Mustard Seed Vow gathering (see Pete Greig's book Vision & Vow). The rule of the Mustard Seed Order is to:
1) Love God
2) Love your neighbor - be kind to others
3) Love the world - take the gospel to the Nations
These three rules are the gospel. Since that gathering I've been asking the Lord to show me how to really live in accordance with the vow/gospel. The first two have really hit me this week. I imagined Jesus telling the "who is my neighbor" story in a new way.

Picture him sitting back and beginning to spin a yarn about someone driving along Hwy #1 along the Oregon Coast and the car hydroplaning and crashing. Picture this car complete with the Christian Fish, Anti-gay marriage and Bush/Cheney stickers all over the bumper. The driver is injured, but OK and the car is not drivable. (Now keep in mind all the drivers in this story must have Qwest because none of their mobile phones have service to call for emergency assistance). As the story goes the injured driver is able to flag down a couple drivers, but both have the "I'm late, I'm late for a very important date" mantra down pat. The first driver has a church speaking engagement and the second an elders meeting. Now the third vehicle to come upon the scene is driven by a man and his partner. This car is covered with rainbow stickers, and Anti-Bush bumper stickers. These two men not only stop, but they pick up this stranded driver and take him to the next town, arrange for his car to be towed, buy him dinner and put him in a hotel for the night while his car is repaired. Then picture Jesus leaning back and asking "So, who is the one who loved his neighbor?"

It was on Tuesday of this week that this spin of "the Good Samaritan" story was given to me and it has been resonating in me since bringing me to a greater realization of how little I love. In a sermon about evangelism, Joy Dawson said that you can't say that you love God and have no concern for the souls of the people around you. So I guess the first two rules are really one, really they're all one. I must learn to love God and what He loves. I more often than not am on my way to somewhere in name of the Lord and the "I'm late, I'm late..." mantra could be easily heard on under my breath. (Truthfully, I usually am late).

Ironically, that very same day some police officers responded to the house next door for what appeared to be a mental health crisis. Apparently, something isn't working. One or both of my neighbors is in need of help. So there it is- while i'm loving the idea of going to far off places "to serve" the Lord, there are people next door who Jesus wants to be loving. Jesus put on flesh so that He could go house to house, person to person - to laugh, to cry, to hold. How have I been comfortable for so long running off to the various meetings when there are neighbors whose lives are stranded on the side of the road - right in front of me. Maybe this is why we are out for the prayer house for a season. I(we) need to re-identify with my neighbors, co-workers and the city in which I live. Is this when I become the tabernacle, the presense in the wilderness, and Christ indwelling.

Lord, draw me to the wilderness that I may truly become yours and You become mine (Hosea/Song of Songs). I want to love you well and let you love. Help me Lord, Help me let you Love.
"Oh, wretched man that I am who will save me from this body of death." (Romans).

posted by kt @ 3/25/2005 07:23:00 PM