After a pretty long battle ... long is a subjective word actually, but this battle has felt long to me! Anyway, I have finally agreed to be obedient to God. I have reluctantly, with a reluctance that has morphed into nervous excitement, agreed to begin interpreting at our church. I have never, ever been a person who likes even a little bit to talk in front of people. And I do realize that I am not alone in this fear. I think I may have heard it's the number one fear that people have. But I digress. I didn't want to do it.
So the first service the deaf ministry was relaunched at my church was this Easter. Two days ago. I say relaunched because we used to have a deaf ministry but it has been on hiatus for a few years.
Easter Sunday is a very good day. Period. But in this regard, it was a good day to start this back up because there are always so many visitors and you just never know who might be there that knows someone who is deaf, or has deaf family, whatever. What this also means is there were going to be even MORE people in that large group of people that I needed to be up in front of. Ugh.
Easter morning I woke up and almost immediately start to pray for God to help me..I am so nervous. And David comes to my mind. How he kept the faith even while a crazed king continually wanted to kill him, when he had done nothing to warrant such hatred. About 30 seconds into my thoughts, and the remembrance of Jesus appears. Hello! You know. Jesus. The very Who we are celebrating this very day.
I have whined and whined about the calling He has apparently planned for me. But this truly is NOTHING compared to the call He placed on His own life.
THE God who created the very universe submitted Himself to the womb of a young girl. I never thought about that little detail before. Is there any more humble, helpless place than a womb? And then childbirth. Pleasant? I think not. Seriously...He really could have skipped a few steps along the way. Thirty years of living life, experiencing everything we do. Keep in mind, this was without all the modern conveniences we have the luxury of using for our ease of life.
And ministry begins. His ministry. His calling. So much criticism. Hatred. But I have to think there was such joy that came with those moments His disciples REALLY got it.....even if they couldn't quite get their heads around a certain teaching that they still somehow believed. And He knew! At times they were probably a bit befuddled in some of the details but He knew their hearts and that they were choosing to not focus on the parts that confused them. Because they truly knew that He was who He said He was.
And He knows when that's the case with us as well. And I think it pleases Him. Dare I say brings Him joy?
Then there was that Friday. Good Friday. The Bible says He was beaten beyond recognition. BEYOND. I am not sure I really allow myself to understand what that truly means. Have you thought about that?
Crucified. Those soldiers didn't even know that they were, for you and for me and for themselves, bringing forth the spotless, perfect lamb to be sacrificed so we could be forgiven. Again and again forever.
You see, I think God created us because He wanted a relationship with us but we are human and we sin. And He is holy and cannot even look upon sin and so in order to have eternal relationship with us...He is eternal after all and so the relationship would need to last forever .... there has to be atonement or retribution made for our sin. Or He can't even look upon us, let alone have a relationship with us!
The only sacrifice big enough to cover ALL the sins of ALL mankind is the One responsible for creating all of mankind. God. He promises His creation through the ages that He will send the Messiah who will take care of that sacrifice for us. To be our Deliverer from what we truly deserve. That promise becomes a part of everything the Jewish people knew and know to be true. Much like in America there is no doubt that George Washington was the first president. It's not even debatable. Or that tonight will become tomorrow morning. We know that is true and the Jewish people knew THAT to be true.
The Promise shows up. He proves Himself again and again. Who else can raise people from the dead? Who else knows things about us that no one else knows? We certainly don't tell anyone those things. Who else dies and then comes back to life Himself?
Only Jesus.
My point is this calling on my life, whether it be for a season or the rest of my life is an honor. I do not need to be afraid. At least comparatively speaking. If one person comes to know The Lord, thereby being saved from eternal damnation INTO eternal relationship with God....that relationship which was THE point of our being created in the first place, and the only place we will discover true joy.... if that happens because God somehow saw my hands fit to interpret His message for the deaf, I say thank You for the privilege.
And I must remember Matthew 4:19 if I want to be a follower of Jesus. "Come, follow me," said Jesus, "and I will send you out to fish for people." And in Romans 1:16 Paul says 'For I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.' It's not even my power making it happen! Why am I afraid?
That salvation knows no boundaries. God wants no one to perish. Jew, Gentile, Hearing, Deaf...NO ONE. Not any people group at all. No person.
I don't need to be afraid and neither do you! It's HIS message. It's powerful and if you give Him a real chance you will find that it is true!
He is risen. He is risen indeed!
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