Then Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone what had happened. He said, “Go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.” But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. Luke 5:14-15
For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Ephesians 5:8-10
Jesus knew that living to please His Heavenly Father was the key to staying on target with the central focus of His mission, the redemption of the world. Our Heavenly Father loved the world and gave His Son to be the redeemer of the world. Jesus came as His Father’s gift to the world and as such He knew He must keep His eye on the Cross where He would provide redemption for the world. Why did Jesus instruct the healed leper not to tell anyone about his healing? Jesus knew what a distraction vast crowds could be to staying focused. The leper did not heed the instructions of Jesus and vast crowds were the result. We too are to live to please our Heavenly Father and constantly maintain our focus to exist for the mission of redemption to which He has called us.
When we become ones who make serving a priority, we face many distractions from the people we serve, and we often end up living to please them instead of our Heavenly Father. This problem is rooted in the dynamics involved with having people need us and how this feeds things within ourselves that are problematic. We need to be vigilant about maintaining a commitment to live to please our Heavenly Father. We must always remember that the “need” is not the “call.” We are called to serve our Heavenly Father, not merely the needs of other people. As his servants, we seek to please him day after day by doing his will in a consistent and comprehensive manner.
Through daily quiet times with God, we connect with God himself, his ways, and how he is moving in our lives. When this is how we connect with God, we will know the specifics of his will for us in the outworking of the mission of redemption to which he has called us. The less we connect with God in these ways, the less we will exist for him and the mission of reaching the world.
Lord, it seems that being close to you and hearing your voice is the key to living for you and the things that are important to you. As a recipient of redemption, I want to be an agent of redemption. Help me to be so in tune with you that being used by you in the lives of others flows smoothly and naturally. Lord, I am so thankful for having the exciting and fulfilling opportunity of existing for you and your mission of reaching the world. Amen!
