Go, God! Wait a Minute, Me Too?

You might find the title of this blog to be interesting or maybe just plain confusing. So let me try to explain it.

I find that many times I want God to act, especially in difficult situations. And in these moments, I shout, "Go, God!" It's almost like I'm a part of a screaming fan base, cheering God along as He works on the field.

But then, sometimes I think God stops on the field, turns on His heels, points at me in the stands, and says, "You go!" And this is when I say, "Wait a minute!" It's almost like I love to see God work, but I'm not sure I want to be a part of it myself.

You know, I find it interesting that when God works in difficult situations in Scripture, He uses His people. He mobilizes His servants to be a part of His mission. We're not called to remain in the safety of the stands; we're called to join Him on the field. And of course, this means we're going to get hit. Hence, our selfish hestitation.

Just think of some Biblical examples:

• Moses. God says in Exodus 3:9-10, "The Israelites' cry for help has come to Me, and I have also seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. Therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharoah so that you may lead My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt" (HCSB). I can almost hear Moses as I paraphrase his response to this shocking news in Exodus 3:11 - Who, Me go? No! Wait a minute - I want You, God, to do something about the problem, but I don't necessarily want to be a part of it. I just wanted to sit back in the stands and watch You do something about the problem!


• Jehoshaphat and Judah. In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah are in a difficult situation as they're being attacked by several enemies all at once. Of course, they're no match for this battle. So they call a prayer meeting! But when God responds to their prayer with an answer, check out His message: "Listen carefully, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the Lord says: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. [Imagine a big sigh of relief as everyone smiles and starts to chant: Go, God! Go, God!] Tomorrow, go down against them.' [Dead silence. Everyone starts to cry and chant: No, God! No, God!]" (2 Chronicles 20:15b-16a, HCSB). You get the point, right? We're very happy to hear that the battle is God's, we just don't want Him to use us to fight it!


• Esther. Do you remember when the Jews are in Persia and Haman hatches his sinister plot to annihilate all of them? Now God has already positioned Esther in the palace so she can be a part of God's plan to deliver His people, but this is going to mean she has to risk her own life for the life of her nation. And what are Mordecai's immortal words to this young Jewish woman as she weighs her personal safety in the balance against the collective life of God's people: "Who knows, perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14b, HCSB)? Have you ever thought that the reason God gave you to vision for how He wants to work is so that He can use you to be a part of it even if it means tremendous sacrifice? Many people want to have the vision but not the burden.


• The Disciples. After Jesus saw the needs of the crowds in Matthew 9:35-38, He sent out His disciples in Matthew 10:1ff. Before Jesus ascended to the Father, He gathered His disciples and gave them His Great Commission (see Matthew 28:16-20). At the beginning of the book of Acts when the disciples were still wondering about the details for God's future plans for the nation of Israel, Jesus reminded them that He was going to mobilize them to be His witnesses in the power of the Spirit throughout the whole earth (see Acts 1:6-8). After Paul talks about how Christ makes us new creations in Himself, he tells us that God gives us the ministry of reconciliation and sends us forth as Christ's ambassadors so that He can urge the world through us to be reconciled with Himself (see 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

Isn't it obvious? God is on the go, and He wants to know if you'll join Him or just cheer for Him. His eyes are scanning the "stands" of the earth right now looking for someone who will be a part of His mission throughout the whole earth. Will it be hard? Sure. Will it require sacrifice? Absolutely. But is there any better place to be in life than laboring in the Father's vineyards? No!

Let God use your vocal chords to urge the world to be reconciled to Him. Let God use your hands to point others to Christ. Let God use your feet to lead the way to Jesus who is the only way. Remember: "To live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21b, NIV).