You’ve heard me speak of the problems I’ve been having with my current car. So much so, that it’s been sitting in my garage for over a week. I’ve been driving my husband’s truck (with manual transmission) and it was starting to get difficult.

So my husband and I have been looking for our next vehicle. We purchased the car issue of Consumer’s Report and scoured the pages for what we thought might be possibilities. We then would jump online to see who had what at local dealerships. We emailed possibilities to one another. We continued reading. It was quite a process.

Until he came home from work yesterday. As he was again searching the internet for yet another possibility, I made this comment. “You know we can research until there’s no more researching to do, but until we actually go to look at these vehicles and drive them, we won’t know what we’re looking for. After we’ve chosen the car we want, then we can search the internet for the best buy.”

He agreed.

So off we went to a local dealership and the “up close and personal” search. We found one we liked and could get a great deal on and were considering it. Then my husband asked what they had in my favorite color. Red. They had a beauty. A step up and for just a little more (really this is true), I could have the car of my dreams.

We made the deal, signed all the paperwork and I have a new car. But there was a little problem. It was dirty. It had been on another lot and needed to be detailed. But the detail department was closed for the night. It would be the next day before it could be completely ready to leave the lot.

I don’t even have a pic to show you!

I drove away without my brand new car. I mentioned to Mason how I was feeling. Like leaving my baby at the hospital. Something was wrong with the scenario. But it was for the best. Today, my car will be ready for me to pick up in perfect condition and as it should look.

As we left the dealership, I told our salesman to take care of my car. He promised he would.

I wondered if Jesus didn’t feel a little bit like this as He left earth. He had given all He possibly could for what would become the Church. He had spent three years traveling the countryside, teaching as He went. He healed multitudes of people. He spent sleepless nights in prayer with His Father asking for His guidance in the task. He mentored twelve men who would be the great leaders of His Church.

He offered His life as a sacrifice for the ransom of many.

There really was nothing more He could offer, except the Holy Spirit to help lead and guide these faithful believers after He was gone.

But still, Jesus left His life’s work to a group of men who had proven to be unfaithful to Him. Who had proven that their faith wasn’t as strong as He wanted it to be. Who had proven to fall back on their human, sinful nature on more occasions than He would have liked.

But in spite of all of this, Jesus left His Church in their hands. Now He did tell them to take care of it. Peter specifically was told three times to take care of Jesus’ sheep (John 21:15-19). And the whole group was given the mission in Matthew 28:18-20.

And as mentioned earlier, Jesus didn’t leave them to do the work alone. In Acts 1:4 Jesus tells the disciples of the gift they will receive. Jesus told them in greater detail throughout His ministry what this gift could offer them, so they had an idea of how the Holy Spirit would assist them (John 16:5-16).

Jesus knew He left His mission in capable hands. He knew this small group of disciples would spread His message to the entire world. And it happened just as He knew it would.

How are you doing with the mission and message of Jesus? Are you living it each day? Are you sharing it with those who need to hear the message? Are you caring for Christ’s Church as He intended? Do others see Jesus through you?

It’s morning. I get to pick up my car today. But more importantly, I have an opportunity today to be better at living the way Jesus has asked me to live. Live a life of faith, grace and love. Live a life that reflects His image. Live as He would live.

It’s a larger than life task, but with the guidance of God’s Spirit, I have a greater chance of doing so. It’s only with the help of the Holy Spirit that can be what I am and do what I do.

I pray that you too feel the urgency to live this way.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

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