“Take away the stone,” he said.  “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.  – John 11:38-39

We live in a world where the overwhelming majority of people who call themselves Christians make little to no effort to show the world Christianity.  Part of the answer may lie in Acts 11:26, “the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.”  I don’t think we were ever intended to call ourselves “Christians.”  Other people (outside of Christianity) are supposed to call us Christians because we live differently than the culture.  Our obedience to Christ does not save us, our trust in the work He did on the cross does that, but obedience should define us.

Unfortunately, we use the same excuse Martha did, “Lord, doing what You say stinks.”  Obedience is often difficult. Evil convinces us that if God doesn’t come through, it could be embarrassing for us, and let’s face it, as Americans, we want everything done for us with minimal to no effort on our part.  We don’t want to have to do anything.  Most Americans are content to show up to church on Sunday morning, have their “toes” stepped on, and then go live the rest of the week exactly like they did the previous week.  

I’m asking the Lord this morning, “What stone can I move?”  The things God asks of us are completely doable.  He told Peter to cast his net out on the other side of the boat (Luke 5:4).  Peter didn’t want to (Luke 5:5), but that act of obedience produced the presence of God like he had never known before.  What act of obedience can I do that will open the door for God to do what only He can do?

One act of obedience for me is simply to write these WMD’s.  One day when a guy from Kenya told me that he read one of these at his church, I was blown away.  Another time, a guy from Florida read one to his football team before they took the field.  I can take 30 minutes to an hour each week to write these things.  I can roll this one stone away.  I can’t change anyone’s heart, mind, and life.  I can’t forgive sins . . . only Jesus can do that.  But, just maybe, I can roll a stone away that paves the way for Him to do so.

One of the hardest and most rewarding things I’ve done was make the decision to play music in wine bars, taprooms, and taverns.  When I first thought God was asking me to do this, I felt like Peter when he was told he could eat unclean foods . . . “Surely not, Lord!” (Acts 10:14).  I didn’t listen to nor play the stuff that I used to play.  I began to think about how so many kids in school hated me simply because I was a teacher . . . especially a math teacher.  Yet, so often, if I had a guitar in my hand and played any Metallica riff, the kid suddenly thought I was the coolest guy in the world.  He would for the first time open up, talk to me, and even learn from me.  I began to think that there just might be people in the places I might play who are running from God.  I thought that playing one well-placed worship song might be enough for God to point them back towards home.  

This proved to be correct.

What are the stones that you can roll away today?

Lord, with all my heart I want to follow You.  Use me to lead as many people as possible to a saving relationship with You.  I don’t want to die having taken no one with me to Heaven.  You are and always will be the greatest thing this life offers.  Use us, Your people, to roll stones away . . . we can do that.  But only You can bring the dead to life.  Help us Father to get this right . . . especially at a time where your return is so near.  Amen.