Sent but Staying Put
The word ‘apostles’, (which in Greek is apostolos ) literally means ‘sent ones’.
As followers of Jesus, we are both dicsiples (followers) and apostles (sent ones). We are called to follow Jesus, and we are sent by Him to make more followers.
John 3 v 34
“For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without measure”
But at this point, given our Prime Ministers’ advice last night (23rd), we’re locked down! If to ‘be sent’ means to go somewhere, then how can we be sent yet locked down?!
I want to suggest, to be sent by God means to utter His words, to speak of Him, about Him, and more importantly, to utter His words means to be a prophetic voice. “For he whom God SENT, UTTERS the words of God”. The direct link here to being sent, is to utter God’s words.
We are sent to be a voice; a voice that cares, a voice that loves and a voice that speaks the heart of God. A voice that speaks both grace and truth, love and faithfulness. As the old delirious song from my youth said “I’m gonna be a speaker of truth to all mankind”.
This means that even in lockdown, we are still God’s sent ones; sent to speak the Good News and simply good news, truth and love. As we text, phone and skype people, remember that God has sent you to be someone who utters His words. And we’re not alone in doing this – God promises to give the Spirit without measure. But as we know, if we want more of His Spirit at work in our lives, we need to both ask Him, but then take the bold step into the unknown. The key to getting out of our comfort zones, is to get out of our comfort zone! (Yet by not going out!)
We have to be willing and bold, trusting in God to equip us with the words at just the right moment as we strike up that faith conversation over the phone or offer to pray for someone, either right there on the phone, or later in our daily prayer times. Are we willing to have a go and fail? Are we willing to embrace the awkward in order to see the awesome happen?
As John the Baptist famously said “He must increase, I must decrease”.
Today, think about the words you speak. Are they prophetic, are they utterances of God, about Him, for Him or from Him? Are they building up or knocking down? Do they sound like the kinds words Jesus would speak, rooted in love? “For he whom God has sent utters the words of God”.