Scripture Scribbles: May 26, 2024

the Gospel

Mt 28:16-20

The eleven disciples went to Galilee,

to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.

When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.

Then Jesus approached and said to them,

"All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them

in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

the devotion

When something is left unfinished, it drives me a bit crazy.

The Holy Spirit has recently brought this to light for me.

Gently, as always, but convicting nonetheless.

Dirty dishes left out in the sink overnight? They really put a damper on my morning.

Random things left out on the countertops, cluttering up the space? I can’t fully relax.

Laundry left out, waiting to be put away? Bothers me every time I enter the room.

Mid-conversation with those I love, disagreeing on hard-hitting topics? Makes me want to jump out of my skin until we can all peacefully come to a resolution.

I even have trouble focusing on other things until the work is finished.

As the Holy Spirit has gently brought this to my attention, I’ve wrestled with it.

To want something to be finished is a good thing. To have the determination and commitment to get things done is an admirable trait, no doubt. But the evil one can take something that’s good and twist it until it's been perverted, producing rotten fruit. Simple things like clutter left on countertops can make me impatient with others in my life. I can be distracted from the ones God has placed in front of me when I am busy worrying about unfinished work somewhere else.

I’ve felt the Holy Spirit ask me to go deeper: What is it that I am ultimately desiring? Why does the unfinished work bother me so much? What is God putting a finger on in my heart?

Ultimately, I’ve discovered, I am desiring eternity.

I’m desiring a life that cannot be found in this world, only in the next.

In today’s Gospel, it strikes me how it says the disciples “worshiped, but they doubted.” And in the next breath Jesus goes on to give them the ultimate mission. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

I don’t know about you, but hearing this from the Lord when I was actively having trouble even believing in Him would make me feel incredibly unqualified and maybe even a whole lot discouraged. Ashamed. Embarrassed. Frustrated with my own shortcomings.

But I think that would be missing the entire point.

God knows all about our mess.

He sees all of our unfinished business.

He knew that the disciples were “doubting.”

And yet, He chooses to work in and through us, in spite of the mess.

Maybe even because of the mess.

Because He knows that when we choose Him over and over again in the midst of the messiness, we are being redeemed. We are being sanctified. We are being healed. It is through this process, precisely due to the mess we find ourselves in, that we can hope to make it to the ultimate finished product: eternity with Christ, and all those we love, in Heaven. Where every mess is cleaned up, and nothing further is left unfinished. It is in eternity that we can finally rest in earnest, knowing that we have made it home.

But until then, the Lord invites us to enter in right now. He asks us to come to Him and experience the joy and peace of the resurrection, even in the state of messiness that we find ourselves, our loved ones, our homes, and our world.

“For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

We just need to say yes. To show up and allow God in. He will fill all of our gaps and smooth over all of our inequities with His grace, His provision, His timing, and His plans. We just need to cooperate with the gifts that are being extended to us each day. Surrender our plans and rest in His goodness.

Just as He asked the disciples to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” He asks you the same thing today. Through God’s grace, be the light of eternity for others even in and through all of the mess.

Don’t be discouraged by your lack, but rather be encouraged by God’s inexhaustible mercy, infinite grace, and abundant glory and goodness. He loves you so deeply, even in the middle of your messiness. Keep coming to Him. Share with Him your pain and your shortcomings.

Allow Him to fill the parts of you that yearn for eternity in the here and now. And take heart, I’m right here on the journey with you, friend.

Today’s devotion was written by Rachel Smith