In a previous post I mentioned an experience we had with Scott Ridout, a pastor who came and spent some time with some leaders at Prairie Lakes Church last weekend. He used an illustration that I thought was incredibly appropriate for us this week.
Paraphrasing, he said:
Let's say that you have a plate with hundreds of cookies on it. You have way more than you could ever eat. Now, let's say that you notice that the person sitting next to you has no cookies. Not a single one.
So what do you do? You pray. Fervently. "God, the person sitting next to me has no cookies. I believe that you want them to have a cookie, because you're good, and you said that you want everyone to know how much you want them to have a cookie. So God, would you help them to find a cookie today? Would you in some way give them a cookie so that they could enjoy one? Thank you so much for giving me hundreds of cookies. They are delicious. In Jesus' name, amen."
Why do so many of us approach the mission that God has given us in this way? I'm not against prayer. Prayer is important and powerful. But why do we think that prayer without obedience is enough? Wouldn't God want us to be attentive in prayer so that we'll respond to his command to love our neighbor as ourselves?
Friends: the parallel here is obvious. We have hundreds of cookies on our plate. We have Jesus, faith in him, a community, a purpose, and a mission. We have stories of God's faithfulness to us. We have this assurance that his love knows no bounds, that his grace is sufficient, and that his mercy is enough. Our plates are full.
But so many of the people at our offices, in our neighborhoods, in our circles, and in our community are sitting in front of plates that are empty. You've got something to give. Give it. It's time to let God use us to answer our own prayers this week. Prayerfully, authentically, and confidently make the invites. People need to meet the only man who stands today victorious over death.
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