By David Faust
Most of us like to be in control. You probably have a certain way you like your coffee and a preference about the thermostat’s temperature setting. Unfortunately, control issues can cause big problems. Husbands and wives engage in power struggles. Bosses and middle managers disagree about business decisions. Politicians wrestle for control in Congress. Elders and staff members don’t always agree.
How do you respond when things don’t go your way? You can’t control the weather, but you can carry an umbrella if it looks like rain. You can’t control how others drive, but you can keep your car in good repair and drive defensively. Parents rule the roost when our kids are young, but when they become adolescents and adults, we must give up the reins and exchange outright control for subtler techniques like influence and persuasion.
Christ is the greatest leader ever to walk the earth, and the Gospels portray him leading not by coercion or force, but by the persuasive power of truth and love. Because the Creator endowed human beings with the ability to choose, he knows what it’s like to be disappointed by the actions and reactions of others. Jesus described himself as having protective instincts, like a mother hen that wants to gather her chicks under her wings, but sadly, some choose not to accept his help (Matthew 23:37; John 1:11). He possesses “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18), but sometimes people do the opposite of what he wants.
Presence That Couldn’t Be Concealed
On one occasion, Jesus “entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret” (Mark 7:24). At this point in his ministry, Jesus wanted privacy, not publicity; but his presence couldn’t be hidden.
Most of us have times we don’t want to be “on”—when we prefer to be alone and don’t want to be bothered. Yet, duty calls. Friends and family track us down.
It’s wise to have boundaries. Jesus often went off by himself, withdrawing to “lonely places” where he could pray (Luke 5:16). But it seems Jesus used those quiet times not merely to isolate himself, but to refresh himself for ministry. When he was “on,” the Lord was available, adaptable, and interruptible—even willing to assist a woman from a foreign region whose daughter was in desperate need (Mark 7:25-30). Jesus’ dynamic presence couldn’t be hidden.
Good News That Couldn’t Be Silenced
Soon afterward, Jesus healed a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and the witnesses of this great miracle were amazed. “Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it” (Mark 7:36). Again, Jesus didn’t get his way. It’s understandable why people were excited, but it’s stunning that they disobeyed his direct command. Ironically, in this case Jesus said not to tell anyone about the miracle, and they kept talking about it anyway. In the Great Commission, Jesus said we should share the good news with everyone, and we tend to keep the message to ourselves!
In a culture obsessed with personal empowerment, the Lord offers a unique alternative to control. It’s called “surrender.” By saying, “Follow me,” he invites us to slide away from the steering wheel and let him drive.
Personal Challenge: Discuss this question in your small group or with a trusted friend: “In my life right now, what am I trying to control that I need to surrender to the Lord?”
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