Staying True to What the Father is Doing

Early in the ministry of Jesus as recorded by John there is a dispute with leaders who questioned what Jesus was up to. Jesus' reply holds a deep truth: 'The Son can do nothing by himself, He can only do what he sees his Father doing' (John 5:19).

Jesus, who is able to spot a lame person by the pool and immediately pronounce healing for him, can only do what he sees his Father doing. His life and action are intimately bound to God the Father (and later, we learn, the Spirit). He is living life on earth with practical hands-on mission in the mix, but it is always in step with the Heavenly direction.

Our lives (and therefore our mission) are intended to be the same - in step with Heavenly direction, doing as we see the Father doing. This is important to remember because any mission endeavour that grows and continues into multiple years experiences two important phases (among others):

1. In early growth phases good organisation and systems need to be put in place to enable that growth to continue by operating the mission well
2. As years pass personnel and even context may change, but many of those systems will remain. There is now a real risk that the mission becomes about those systems rather than its original or renewed apostolic call

In both of these phases it is important to humble ourselves: we can only do as the Father is doing. So in no. 1 above implement systems that enable that God given mission to do what it is meant to do - through the growth.

Yet it is even more important in no. 2 - for by now there are probably a few years of growth and then finding stability under your belt, which will naturally give a sense (probably quite rightly) of accolade. The 'systems' have worked, so naturally you and others want them to continue to work! So this is where those systems subtly taking over presents a risk - newcomers may have joined that learn the systems rather than feeling the original God inspired apostolic call. All too easily the work with its systems is in focus, rather than straining to see what the Father is is doing.

Maybe the Father is calling for the same - or maybe He is calling in an altered direction (especially if the context has shifted!). We must remember to stay true to what the Father is doing by repeatedly pressing some kind of internal reset button, to look to Him and His direction, and only follow that.