Over the lifetime of our church, since it was planted 18 years ago, Koinos people have helped A LOT of folks move. Moving is always a pain. No one likes doing it. But it always presents an opportunity to serve and show the love of Christ as a family’s need is met. Last Saturday was another opportunity. But something much more than moving happened.
This family was in distress. Grandparents were moving into one household with daughter and grandson. Due to age and health, this was something they could not do alone. The movers lined up to do the job didn’t show. There it was, last minute, and the move had to happen that day. In the pinch, at the last minute is a great time for the love of the church to show up. And it did! I love our church!
Up and down three stories, a U-Haul full of stuff moved, and some really sore limbs; the job was done. But who would show up and help at the last minute like that? Among them were two 19-year-old, young men. Yep, guys with other things they could have done with their Saturday spent the day serving this family. But you also must know, that these guys worked third shift, all night the night before. They had been at work on their feet all night. One of them had not slept for the past TWO DAYS due to work scheduling. And there they were, spending the day showing love in a very hard and humble way on no sleep.
Young disciples, new to following, can learn Christ in great ways while moving: Jesus came to serve not be served – us too. He submitted Himself to His Father and to suffering – when you’re moving someone you do a lot of submitting and suffering. Jesus sees all our dirtiness and loves us anyway – when you move people you always see the dirt underneath everything. The younger from older disciples to do all things without grumbling and complaining. They learn to consider the needs of others as more important than their own. For a few hours they actually live the gospel – Jesus laid down His life to rescue us and we lay down our lives in those moments to serve someone. These two young men are well on their way to learning Jesus well.
And there was more. A multi-generational thing happened. There’s a grandfather who can no longer move his own household. He must depend on others. There I am, along with some other middle-aged men, each of us feeling the decay of our bodies just a little bit more than we did the last time we moved someone. And here are these two 19-year-old’s just starting off in their lifetime of service. Literally for the first time ever I said aloud, “Guys, I don’t want to walk upstairs backward carrying this.” At this point in life I truly thought I might tear something in my knee. Right there before our eyes the importance of discipleship was being lived out before us.
We need to work hard to raise up the next generation of disciples and disciple-makers. Once upon a time I saw myself as invincible; but not anymore. Before very long I’ll be that grandpa who just can’t do it any more. But by God’s grace there will be an even bigger army of young men stepping up to take my place both in the U-Haul and in the church. The parents of these two young men should feel very thankful. And the church is blessed to have them. Jesus, help us do what you told us to do.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20
