Today we soberly commemorate the twelfth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks which destroyed the World Trade Centers, killed 2,996 people and led to devastating wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Early this week a friend recalled hearing the attacks attributed to a failure of imagination. That phrase landed on me like a ton of bricks. Most of us didn’t even dream this could happen.
Twelve years on, I wonder in what ways my imagination may be failing today. What is ahead that I don’t see? What does God have in mind that I’m not even remotely hoping for? How about you? How big is your dream for God’s kingdom in your life, in your city, or maybe even among Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists?
My prayer for me and you is that God would give us grace to imagine not every bad thing that might happen, but rather the fullness of his coming kingdom, his unobstructed, winsome, complete rule in our lives and throughout his creation.
Steve,
Great reminder. I am guilty, in my zeal to paint an accurate picture of all those yet unreached, of crossing the line in my comparisons of why their work is not nearly as important as reaching the unreached. I often forget it is the work of the Holy Spirit to enlighten and draw workers and supporters not my interesting stories veiled with guilt. Thanks for your transparency to remind us that our iron fist plea must be covered with a velvet glove.
I am very grateful for this article. In retirement, I believe that God has called me to share much that he taught me during 3 decades of working with immigrants. Yet I realize now that I’ve likely been guilty of poisoning the pond while catching just a few fish. I’m praying that the Holy Spirit will make me more sensitive in future presentations, so that He can draw more to this important ministry.
Wow — what a great phrase, it was caused by a failure of imagination. One could also add, no doubt, a failure of obedience.
In regards to Jesus knowing his disciples before calling them to leave their fishing “jobs” and follow Him. Not at all true, totally incorrect with no scriptural basis of support. Peter had never met Jesus before that day when Christ called him to
Become fishers of men. Read John 1:35-51
Larry: Thanks for reading MCat and for writing in. I appreciate your transparency as well. May God give you grace and increasing influence in your mobilization.
Pat: Thanks for reading MCat and for writing in. And thank you for your years of faithful service. I agree with your prayer, “that the Holy Spirit will make me more sensitive.” May it be and may you find many who will take up your mantle.
David: Thanks for reading and chiming in. You’re probably right that a “failure of obedience” contributed. Let’s not fail in the same way again!
Dodie: Thanks for reading MCat and weighing in. I appreciated your feisty comment. Since I’ve been wrong before, I’m looking more deeply into the matter of Jesus calling the disciples. I read the passage you referenced, John1:35-51, but I’m not sure how it definitively addresses either of our points.
While I continue to look, let me ask you this: On what do you base your comment, “Peter had never met Jesus before that day when Christ called him to become fishers of men?”
Dodie, thanks for writing about the call of the apostles. The biblical evidence suggests that the calling to leave their nets and become fishers of men, as recorded in Luke 5:11 and Mark 1:16, was not Peter and Andrew’s first encounter with Jesus, but a change in their relationship with him. It appears they had met him through John the Baptist before becoming his disciples. This is seen in the John 1:35-51 account.