“When You Were Stalled” (Mt.4:18-22) [Spanish Jerusalem Bible Series - Ephesians sub-series - # 6:10-18 @6:16-17]
A guy called Nee, made comment bright
About three men – in book he writes
To share such insight – how it’s helped
Me carry on, my stories tell.He noted – if you look, you’ll see
One mended nets to fish the sea;
The second fished there by the shore;
The third made tents – to that he poured –His energy to earn his keep
For he received no salary
As we do now (or some, at least;
Nee’s point in this was good for me –“What did you do when Jesus came
Into your life, so your life changed?
Where was your heart at point he called
You to His work – when you were stalled?For Peter, he was fisherman
“You’ll fish for folk” – then Christ began
To train him up to do that task
So far beyond then hoped or asked.John mended nets there on the beach
Christ called him too – to write and teach
Mend nets of thought for worker’s use
You see the pattern? He sets it loose –His people with their mindsets fixed
To do some task in body-mix;
Then Paul, tent maker – stitched all day
Through letters worked to build up clay –Into a unity quite new
In all his letters there’s of the view
Of stitching folks into one piece;
Of building up – as “One” released.So too with this next verse of Paul’s –
Take up the word, as Spirit calls –
“Enlivened word” to you this day
Sword fit for battle in your way.What of your call, His call to you?
What had you learned in life to do?
What were you predisposed in life
To enter in – to you felt right?To me, I sought to know the facts –
Quite curious, like proverb’s cat;
But not in thought – community
Was where I sought for quality.Not just in “Systems” or in “Folks”
But fabric – whole – when I awoke
To Maslow’s book she gave to me,
“Self-actualized – we all could be –If we just tweak some “This or that”
Improve the church which was quite flat;
Help folks to learn, each in their way;
Set people free in tasks that pay.I sought just then to know the score –
What’s now been done; where’s need for more?
I was not focused on some “Way” –
Desired to set folks free to play –Their roles in life, enriched as well;
Not sidetracked in some private hell;
So much of life imperfect is –
The tow-truck’s role – the Spirit’s biz.“Sword of the Spirit”? rhema-word –
Not logos task (to me absurd);
Enliven words that set us free –
Sword of the Spirit – made for me.Thanks Lord for this.
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