Mission Accomplished

It’s a good thing he paid attention to the instructions from Momma and Daddy Hummingbirds, because making those first solo landings are sometimes not easy to do. You have to have your wings in just the right place, your landing gear down…lots of things to do if you’re going to touch down safely. This young bird probably got lots of OJT, On The Job Training.

Every good leader, all good managers know that training is very important before a rookie gets into the game. Will you be surprised that Jesus understood the need for OJT? Luke, in chapter 10, informs us that “the Master selected seventy and sent them out to every town and place where he intended to go.” Sent them out, yes, but not before training them for the task: “be cautious, this is hazardous work”, “travel light; no extra baggage”, “don’t loiter and make small talk” (stay focused), “stay at one home…don’t move from house to house”, “heal anyone who’s sick and tell them ‘God’s kingdom is right on your doorstep'”. If you are not received in a town, then “go out in the street and say…” and Jesus gives them the exact words. The good news is that when the mission was completed “the seventy came back triumphant…” The training paid off. Mission accomplished.

Maybe all those Sunday School classes and the workshops and the conferences and the assemblies and the special courses we’ve taken over the years are supposed to prepare us for actual ministry, acting on behalf of The Spirit. By the way, all those sermons, too.

Not too late. “Use it or lose it” they say. Let’s modify it just a little: “use it or someone else won’t be blessed today; use it because you have it and we are supposed to share it with others…Good News of great joy.” At least once today, be the blessing you were made (trained) to be. Press on.