The Mission

The line is busy today. Followers from all around gather to hear their Masters’ mission for them. Each person wants to obey and do the task asked of him, but many times trials and obstacles keep him from actually carrying it out. In the end, no one ever completes it on his own. The missions are hard; however some are easy and take no effort at all. Abba knows how much His children can handle.
To even come to the line, the follower obviously loves Jesus through obedience and trust that He will help them start and finish what He asks of them, His Beloved. Other times, though, it is about an encounter with Christ and orders are not even given out.

“Susan Dank,” the Master echoes, softly yet with reverence.
“Yes, Lord. I am here. What would you like me to do?” Susan quivers, for she does not know what He will say.
“I see that you are a busy and precious mom who has many things to do. But I am so honored by your obedience today just to simply come. I want you to go and talk to the new neighbor that moved in right next to you, for she is lonely and does not know me. Can you do this?”
Susan beams and is taken back because this is very doable for her.
“Yes, Master. This task is not too hard for me. However, I cannot walk a single step without your grace, so I still need you. But yes. I will do this. Thank you for using me.”
“Child, I am delighted to see that you even want to be used. My children who have far less to do and are living as they please do not even care what I say, or what I want them to do. I am pleased with you.”

Susan leaves the line, rejoicing that obeying Christ did not mean packing up everything and moving to the mission field. The Master knew that she would be faithful with this small task, and He could give her bigger things in the future.

“David and Ashley Dray,” the Master calls again.
“We are here. What would you like us to do for you?” David replies.
“Seeing your hearts to impact the Nations with my Truth, I am sending you to the vast measure of Romania to start a small church there, to in turn open the natives’ doors to start a church elsewhere as well. Pastor Rumel has been fasting and praying for two years for two people from the United States to come over there and help them. I am sending you two out. You will need one year to raise support, learn some of the language and talk to Rumel and the people there. And then you will go. You will be over there for quite awhile. Your parents will not understand; they will not talk to you the whole time you are over there. Do you still want to go? The road is marked with trials and obstacles hindering you from going. Do you still want to go? Even while over there, the Adversary will hinder you and sometimes steal your joy. Do you still want to go?”
Ashley and David looked at each other, searched one another’s eyes, nodded their head, and looked to the Master.
Ashley replied, “We will go. You have begun preparing us for this very moment years and years in advance. You know this is our dream mission. And you know that we both love you unto death, so we will go. You have given us both power over the Enemy so what can he do to us that you have not yet ordained? And You will continue to give us strength, so what is there to fear if you are with us? But Father.. You will of course help us get the support and continue to supply our needs?
“My son and daughter. Of course I will help you and give you everything you need to go out blindly, yet boldly. I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

And with that, David and Ashley heard what they needed and went out with rejoicing as well.

“Sarah Joy.” The Master smiles, looking at a sweet little girl standing in front of him, with nothing in her hands, nothing to offer Him but herself.
“I am here Daddy.”
Her whole face lights up because she knows who she is talking to.
“What do you want me to do for you Daddy?” She sways her body with eagerness.
The Master pulls her up into His lap and speaks, “Well, my sweetheart. I am so glad that you came to see me today.”
Everything stops as the Father is mesmerized by His daughter’s eager heart just to please Him and do whatever He asks, unsure of what that even means.
“ I see that you have a few pennies at home. In Sunday school, you can give it in the offering and that will make me happy.
“Ok. I can do that! Is there anything else Papa?”
The Master playfully rubs his chin, and scrunches his eyes.
“Nope, I think that is it. But thank you my sweetheart for asking.”
Sarah giggles, jumps off of His lap and scurries away, excited that she can give all she has to please her Daddy.

The line goes on and on and on. Names are read, people are either obedient to the task, half-hearted about it, or disobedient all together. Only the Master sees the heart and knows the true intentions.

“Michael Rimely.” The Master smiles as He reads the name off.
“Here. What do you want?” Michael responds angrily.
“Michael, I am so glad you came. But I did not make you come or drag you here, you came here by yourself. What do you want?”
“I know,” Michael sighs. “ Lord, I am just not feeling my way through life anymore, giddy and happy and full of You. Why? Why are you not with me? Why do you not give me joy and give me the good Christian life? I am here to see if a completed mission would give me something that I am searching for.”
The Master‘s face turns and He looks distraught, yet kind.
“Michael.”
The Master’s way of saying Michael’s name brings fear and awe into his heart.
“Michael. You are concerned about how you feel, how your life is going, why you don’t have joy, why I am not there. But it is not about you, son. It is about me and sharing my heart with others, wherever that mission takes you. I have never left you. Your heart is not in the right place, son. I cannot give you another mission to be faithful with, when I have given you so much already, and you have been unfaithful. I will give you the same mission again that I gave you ten years ago: Go and proclaim my Name and the Gospel of salvation to your unsaved mother and father, Jim at work, and your wife. That may be the hardest mission you think I can give you, but how can I send you somewhere else when your mission field is right here? Can you do it?”
“No! I cannot do it.” Michael cries in frustration and brokenness. “It hasn’t worked!”
“Exactly. You cannot do it. I can. Let me work through you, giving you words to speak and divine appointments. That is why you have not been faithful since you have tried to do it all by yourself, and to be the brave man of valor and obedience that your flesh wants to be. When you allow me to help you live for my Name, then you will experience that joy you crave, and the satisfaction of this life that you need. Then people will see that you are after my heart and that a good reputation is better than anything else”
A light came on in Michael’s head as he realized the simplicity of it all.
“I see. Yes, I will do it then, but only if you help me, and give me everything I need. It becomes an act of faith and obedience then, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, son. It does.”

The long, busy line that never ends is not always about the Father giving His child something to do. That is a huge part of it, but not everything. No, it is where faith meets trust, and love for the Master turns into obedience; and where brokenness before Christ results in freedom.



This was a story I wrote about Followers obeying their Father's plans for them. Obedience, true and beautiful obedience is such a rare thing today.