Saying No … to the right things

Is it possible that Kingdom work is as much about what we say “No” to as it is about what we say “Yes” to?  [Note:  If you think this is headed toward a legalistic, moralistic list of “dos” and “don’ts” related primarily to behavior, it’s not!]

There are two stories – almost back to back in the gospel of Luke – that have challenged me for years.  In Luke 4:14-30, Jesus has just finished His testing in the wilderness and He returns home to Nazareth.  He attends the synagogue, reads the Messianic passage from Isaiah 61*, and announces that “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”  There’s an exchange with the crowd about no prophet being recognized in his home town and Jesus is driven, by the crowd, out of town to the edge of a hillside where they intend to throw him off the cliff.  “But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.”  (v. 30).

A few verses later (verses 40-44), we find Jesus in Capernaum at the home of Simon.  Beginning when the Sabbath ended at sunset, people brought a steady stream of the sick and demon-possessed to Him and He healed them.  This continues throughout the night until Jesus retreats to a solitary place at daybreak.  The people find Him and try to keep Him from leaving.  “But he said, ‘I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.’” (verse 43).

So where’s the challenge?  For me it comes in several forms. 

In the midst of people who know me, who may not think I can do something, am I willing to hold fast and trust my sense of call?  To not let their perception of me cloud who God says I am?

For me, a deep rejection which is then followed by an adoring crowd, would make the adoring crowd an enticing place to stay.   Do I have the courage – and the sense of call – to move on, not knowing what is ahead in terms of acceptance or rejection?

Can I leave things “undone” or “unfinished” when it is not my role to finish them?  As I read this passage, my assumption is that there were needs Jesus did not meet in Capernaum.  More sick people.  More demon possessed people.  More suffering.  More people to inspire and nurture.  And He walks away from that.  He says “No” – not always an easy thing for us to say in Christian circles where we are inundated with requests to meet needs.  He says “No” to real ministry opportunities in order to be obedient to His greater calling.

 In many ways, this last one is the hardest for me.  It doesn’t feel right to see what needs to be done and then not do it.  How do I keep my eyes on the bigger picture when the little picture is so immediate and so compelling?   

I don’t have an answer.   I’m not even sure I can say definitively that I know what I am sent to do – even after 20 years of being challenged by this passage.  So, even at this stage of my life, I long for increasing pieces of that knowledge – and occasional reminders that I am created and sent for a purpose. 

 
*Isaiah 61:1 – The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,  because the LORD has anointed me  to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,  to proclaim freedom for the captives  and release from darkness for the prisoners, to  proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor.