We live in a time where faces are filtered, families are fractured, and futures are foiled all because instant gratification has replaced intentional intimacy.
In the New Testament, there is a passage of scripture call the Book of Acts. In it he author is recounting the events after the resurrection of Jesus to man named Theophilus.
It bears mentioning that the book attributed to the apostle Luke is also written to Theophilus. So what we have here is a second work in a larger narrative.
I’m sure as Theophilus heard this rendition of the gospel story he may have had some questions. Like where was Jesus while the disciples were suffering? It says he showed up after his suffering, but what about his followers? How were they supposed to believe in a man claiming to be the messiah, but was murdered before their very eyes?
I can imagine brother Luke taking Theo back to the first letter, when Jesus helped Peter’s small business with their cash flow problem. Y’all know the story, they had been fishing all night and had caught nothing. But Jesus used their problem to prove his love by caring for what they cared for. Luke probably talked about the time when Jesus solved a woman’s grief problem by raising her son from the dead and proving his Lordship over life and dominion over death. I’m sure he reminded Theo of when Jesus spoke to the storm and proved He’s in charge of creation. I’m sure the good doctor Luke took brother Theo down through the text to show the problems that Jesus used to prove himself so that Theo might believe that if he did it before he can do it again.
The problem with our social media society is that we are double tapping likes for the level up but weren’t committed for the come up. The shield of screens has distorted our perception of progress. The story doesn’t start when you tune in, and God is not finished when you flip the channel. Being alive is not measured by attention. It is measured by intention.
This is what is missing in our insta culture, we need to take inventory of our intentions.
This love religion is intentional. Does your love ever ask you to suffer? Some of you who have been married for 20 years - 30 years you know that faithfulness is the real way to bring sexy back. But it will cost you. You will sacrifice if you plan to love anyone long term. That’s what’s missing in our hookup culture- there is a propensity to gauge there other person’s value instead of inspecting our own intentions. When’s the last time you laid down your desires for someone else to benefit?
This is called serving. Jesus didn’t show up because he was lonely. Jesus didn’t show up because he needed something from humanity! He showed up after his suffering for their sake. The proof of our faith isn’t not in simply obtaining what we desire, it is in developing through difficulty. The problems that present themselves in your path are proving grounds. They are evidence that the same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is able to pick you up out of your dead end job if you’ll just remain faithful, able to revive your marriage if you just stay in prayer, the problems we face do not make us afraid they are invitations to dive deeper in your relationship with God.
We must regain the religion of the Rabbi from Galilee. A religion of redemption, a religion of righteousness. This Is a righteousness marked by justice and the contagious joy of knowing you’ve been forgiven. It is marked by a deep compassion demonstrated by a discipline of generosity. Our religion is one of social justice. Where, in the words of the good Rev. Dr. all of God’s people, black and white, Native American and Latin, Asian and Hispanic can join hands to shout free at last, free at last thank God almighty we’re free at last. A religion where justice rolls down like a river and righteousness like a mighty stream. A religion of real love.
Love is built on continuity not convenience. Your love for others ought to informed by your calling to serve. Because as you look back, you’ll be able to point to the problems in the past as proof that when it feels like you’re down to nothing, God is up to something.
Motives matter. There is the saying, it doesn’t matter how you start, but how you finish. It’s a good saying. But, we must also consider, that the journey to the finish line matters just as much as crossing it. Intention is a mental commitment to purpose.
Your purpose will always be juxtaposed with a problem. For many people, the problem is proof that their purpose is polluted beyond redemption. But, the bible is full of stories that show us that Jesus often shows himself in the middle of the suffering. The fact that he is present in our problems is proof that the problem is not greater than his purpose.
Thank God that your problem is not greater than your purpose! The next time you face a problem, you can smile because you know that problems produce patience, and patience produces character and character engenders hope and when you put your hope in Jesus, you can trust that no problem will prove him to be a liar! Is there anybody in this place who can give God a praise in the problem?!