Luke 10:16 “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

This is a truly awe-inspiring verse, when you really think about it. Jesus actually said similar things multiple times. In Matthew 10:40 He said, “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me.” In John 20:21 He said, “As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” Taken together, that is totally mind-boggling. We take the name, Christian, too lightly! Even more, we take the privilege of praying in Jesus’ Name lightly. We believe that Jesus was fully God, but do we understand that He was also fully man? It was because He was fully both that He could say these things to us with any hope of their being true. We are a strange mixture, tending toward stupid pride that thinks we can accomplish things without God, but failing to understand that we can be God’s agents as much as Jesus was in His earthly ministry. It doesn’t take much thought to grasp the fact that being God’s agents is far more glorious than anything we could dream up on our own! This whole issue calls for a profound humility, because the minute we think “I can do this” in a humanistic way, we have failed. We have to be fully dependent on God, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, and know that we are, for this to be fully operative in our lives.

I am probably more aware of this than many, because of ministering in the largely non-Christian culture of Japan. Having been in Omura over 30 years, we have seen a wide gamut of responses to us and to the message we bring. In relation to some people today’s verse is heart-breaking, because it means they have rejected their Creator. In relation to others it is somewhat confusing, because they have received Cathy and me very warmly, yet have not acknowledged Christ in an open way. We have to release them to the mercy and grace of God. I am never to back down but keep speaking the truth in love, whether that truth seems to be received or not. Right now there are several who seem to be strongly drawn to the Christ they see in Cathy and me, yet they feel unable to follow through on that for one reason or another. I am to keep praying for them, not saying “Oh it’s OK,” but not rejecting them for their hesitation either. I am to pray that they would receive the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit because of what they experience of God through me.

Father, You have made it very clear that I can’t force anyone to join Your family, but I can be useful to You in loving them into it. Help me be fully faithful as Your agent, so that as many as You are calling would indeed respond, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!