Are you LIVING THE DREAM? Has everything in life turned out like you’d hoped and dreamed? Has it been like a fairy tale? For most of us life doesn’t exactly play out like a Disney movie.
There are people and even pastors who will tell you that if you pray hard enough and do the right stuff that God will overwhelm you with blessings. He will make all of your dreams come true, especially financially. That’s a nice thought, but it’s not Biblical at all. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV) If you’ve read the Bible at all, you know that even the most devout and faithful God followers had trials and tribulations.
For those who followed Jesus, for a brief period of three years, it may have seemed like they were “living the dream”. Their lives were dramatically altered and changed forever as this mysterious stranger swept them away. The future seemed luminescent and limitless. They were eyewitnesses to some of the greatest miracles and displays of power in history. They probably thought that it would never end, and didn’t want it too. It wasn’t always blissful of course. The disciples had their squabbles, Jesus reprimanded them from time to time, there was an ongoing feud with the religious leaders that kept them on the move, but their trials and tribulations were miniscule in comparison to the SUPERNATURAL things they experienced, the things they saw Jesus do. Talk about elevated expectations. Jesus followers were riding one of the highest highs in history. What will Jesus do next? How can He top that? The disciples probably thought they were going to be KINGS OF THE WORLD! They had hitched their wagon to a star.
However, there was bigger picture playing out, God’s overall vision for His creation. Jesus was the answer to their prayers and prophecies. He was the Messiah, but God’s plan didn’t exactly follow the narrative that the disciples had in mind. They had a different dream or vision of what the future would be like with Jesus on the planet, especially Judas, who thought Jesus would lead a rebellion to overthrow the Romans. Jesus tried to help the disciples understand God’s plan. He even gave them clues that He would not be around, in the flesh, forever. In Matthew 26, the disciples had gathered at the home of Simon the Leper and a woman anointed Jesus head with very expensive oil. The disciples got very upset that she was “wasting” all this oil that could have been sold to give to the poor. Jesus, who was aware of how much the oil was worth, told the disciples, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Mathew 26:10-13 NIV
“Hey boys, focus! You’re not thinking BIG PICTURE here!”
The title of my sermon this week is “Living the Dream”. Yes, Robby’s preachin’ this week. I know, it’s almost too scary to contemplate. I would prefer to call it a conversation. Kind of thinking out loud. Hopefully the Lord will do most of the talking. Anyway this is a preview.
God has a BIG PICTURE, a PLAN, and a VISION for all of us. He has made it clear from the beginning. His vision is laid out for us pretty clearly in His word. The cool thing is that God has included us in His plan, as in; we get to be a part of carrying it out or spreading it. We are joining a heavenly host or a “cloud of witnesses”, all those who came before us in proclaiming the good news or Gospel of our Lord. The baton has been passed from generation to generation. We must remain faithful and pass the baton to the next generation. It is our calling and our mission.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 NIV
I’m looking forward to sharing some of my dreams and visions throughout the years, reminding us of God’s vision, and encouraging all of us to stay focused on God’s BIG PICTURE in spite of the bumps and distractions along the way.
Hope you have a great week!
Love y’all!
Robby Morris
Director of Family Ministry and Facility Management
Andrews UMC
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