Interrupted 4

So often we claim we don’t have time to be merciful and help others. It was stated best by Charles Spurgeon… “Ministry is what happens in the interruptions.” In our discussion of ‘Interruptions’ from Matthew 9.9-26, we see several examples of the types of things that can positively happen through interruptions. Some of those interruptions have not seemed to be ‘helpful’ at the time or even distracting, but in it all Jesus was glorified. A disciple of Jesus ought to be asking… ‘Is this true in my life also?’ Is there a difference in His interruptions and mine?

Philippians 1.6 is clear that God will finish what He starts— “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Indeed, God will finish what He starts… the interruptions are merely road signs for us. Are you reading the signs accurately? We get mad, frustrated, discontent, and take things way too personal. The first question we ask should be— ‘What is God doing?’ Jesus had this down clearly (obviously). You and I, on the other hand, would probably go home very frustrated by the end of this full day of interruptions in Matthew 9. I would imagine saying something to the effect— ‘I couldn’t get a thing done today!’. Some would go home so frustrated they would explode to our spouse how unfair the day has been. 

Did you notice though, that the original task Christ had… He never comes back to— Matthew. Why? Because he followed Him. Remember people not programs. In a discipleship ministry, you take your disciple with you. Or as Mark 3.14 says— “…that they should be with Him.” Because we are dealing with people, we must also trust that God will finish it. We are not in charge and our great planning isn’t the answer. Personally, I’ve found that I’m merely God’s associate and He is the one doing the discipling of the disciple I’m presently working with. 

But our life is not just going through the tasks, knocking them off like dominos. Our Captain is running things and he has every right to do some interrupting in our lives. After all, aren’t these the lives He purchased on Calvary? Our story continues with Jesus finally making it to Jarius’ daughters side. As soon as Jesus walked in, He surveyed the commotion as we see in verse 23. In verse 24— “He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.” They were making a ruckus and emotionalizing this event, and Jesus was called there (originally) to heal this girl. His answer was… “give place”. Step off! Move out! Bug out! Get out of the way! At least that’s how we would say it today. He basically said, ‘excuse me’ and came to her side. His reason? She isn’t dead. Alrighty… before you and I start thinking high and mighty about how we would react, let’s remember that we are all human and if a friend’s daughter was laying there, presumably dead, we would react in a similar way. 

Many times people seek to interrupt God’s work. Again, Jesus said “Give place”. The Greek uses those two words as a single word (an-akh-o-reh’-o) which means— to retire; depart, give place, go (turn) aside, withdraw self. I love the way Doctor Luke renders it in Luke 8.54a— “And he put them all out…” They were in the way. Some do seek simply to interrupt. I have no easy answer for this, but to be led of the Holy Spirit in these matters. Sometimes you will get it wrong and other times you will see how God was working it out all along. These folks needed to get out of the way. Ponder on that for a moment. Could it be that we are the ones in the way occasionally? Thinking we have to handle it, yet say we have no time. I think God has moved me out of the way a time or two just so He could work and He would get the glory and not me. In discipling, you must remember that it’s God working in you and them… not us. Again, personally I’ve found it helpful to see myself as His associate and not the other way around. Love people, stay on task, which is people, and never forget that we are not ultimately in charge. 

Maybe you need an interruption today? Maybe the ones you’ve already faced need to be seen through a new set of eyes; spiritual eyes if you would. Christ is again trying to help us, He is telling us to move out of the way! He is wanting us to watch His mighty hand and not our supposed intellect. 

We too may need to draw away and let Christ work.  When your schedule gets too busy or more important than His will for your life then you are not where you need to be. Sometimes He needs to interrupt and move us aside just so He can work. 

This is an invitation to be interrupted. Ask Him to do it and SEEK Him in the interruption. Any invitation is a time where you meet God, we offer one at our weekly assembly. You never know where the invitation will go, or how long, or who it will come through. We are given opportunities all day long to be interrupted by Christ… I just hope we aren’t in His way and interrupting when He is trying to work.

Abraham was sitting at home. Moses was out in the wilderness. Isaiah was in a worship service. Matthew was at work. The woman caught in adultery was, well, caught in adultery and about to be stoned. In each of these cases… God interrupted them. God will find you. God is trying to show you Himself in every circumstance— let Him interrupt you today.