Changing the Result

We are a results-driven culture; that is for sure. It doesn’t take long to see how many commercials are showing products that produce results. We know all too well that our jobs demand results. We can even see it in our expectations for our kids. We want to see results, whether results in faith or results in their careers. Our ears perk up as we hear someone sharing results. God certainly built us to use the gifts we have to bless others, and in turn, it creates results. I have to admit that even in the pastoral ministry, I am looking at churches that have results. Results can sometimes produce ego and can get us off track, so how do we drive for results but stay humble and patient?

When I began in ministry, I was handed the Sunday night service. There were less than 50 people who attended this service. Now, you may think the problem is having a Sunday night service in the first place, but not so in California. Almost every church has as a Sunday night service. Looking at our church size and the fact that over 200 people attended every other service, 50 people for Sunday night was really low. To help with this task, I was given a youth intern who was amazingly gifted with music and working with kids. He already had a band going, we just needed to implement them into the Sunday night service. We called it “The Awakening,” and that is exactly what happened to this dead service. It awakened! I learned a lot during those times. I watched God come into a place we had already presumed dead, and fill it with life again. I was naïve, which translated into my faith to believe that God could do anything anywhere.

Maybe I was not so naïve after all; maybe it was an important lesson I would need in life and future ministry. There were many times in ministry I tried to figure out why well-planned and executed events fell flat on their face. I can’t tell you how many well-crafted super bowl parties I put together where I felt deflated at the end. I wondered where my performance could have been better and examined my expectations of the results. Now I have learned to keep planning and preparing, but to balance my expectations. Most importantly, I’ve learned to trust this simple lesson—God can show up at any place, at any time, and awaken us.

This week’s lesson is exactly that. A results-driven centurion believes God can show up at any time and heal, bless, or change the results. This centurion lives commanding men to do tasks, and when they fail, he takes the hit. So much is expected of him. Results drive the culture he lives in too. In our reading, this man came to Jesus knowing he could change the results of anything. He faithfully trusted that Jesus was his God who could handle any challenge and problem.

Last weekend we laid a new vision for Mt. Calvary. Yes, the church has been here before.  But I am not going to speak about the past, rather I am concerned with the future. I am concerned with us preparing and praying for God to show up at anytime, in any place. I am praying God would make this church known for its extraordinary servanthood. I am praying the community would see this extraordinary servanthood. I am not worried about the mistakes or failures of the past.  That’s why we confess and receive absolution every week. I want to pray for Jesus to guide us to servanthood in new areas. Will you pray for Mt. Calvary? Will you pray that Jesus stirs our hearts to serve? Will you pray that we are prepared for the people He sends us? The centurion was focused on his communication with Jesus knowing God will listen. I pray you communicate with your Savior and are prepared to see Him show up!