Yesterday, I met with a missionary friend of mine home on furlough. As he prepares for his return to the field he voiced a concern he had about his own capacities within his role. After a conversation with this wife, he questioned his ability to love all people equally, especially those with limited contact or little exposure. He felt that there was a lack of compassion on his part when he did not experience the pain that others experienced at the death of people close to those he ministered to. I could see that this was really bothering him, so we tried to put the concept into context because I struggle with this also – especially when I am in airports or other crowded areas. It seems as if my biases kick in strongest in those types of settings. At the same time, it causes me to marvel as to how God could and does have the capacity to love each and every individual without bias and respect to their place or position in life.
As we worked through the weight of the matter, God reminded of how to keep this in perspective. We knew that Jesus had many disciples. We are not exactly sure of the maximum number or whether the desertion by many in John 6:66 occurred before or after the sending out and return of the 70 in Luke 10:1, 17. What we do know is that His followers and those He invested His life in were many, but there were only 12 Apostles. And from those 12 Apostles, there were only 3 – Peter and brothers James and John. Jesus gave limited time to the 70, focused time to the 12 and intimate time to His inner circle. There was only so much that He could do within a three-year time span. He had to direct His attention where it was most needed. He had to prep these people for their future roles in the same way you and I must prepare our children and those we mentor/coach for their future roles.
Peter was prepared to become the foundation of the Church (Matthew 16:18.) He had to instill in Peter the basis of a faith that would sustain him through the test of time and trials. Christ knew that if this was done properly, when the weakness of denial and the following shame set in, the forgiveness would drive him to boldness in the role – not that he lacked boldness to start with. We all know Peter was impulsive but it would take that trait for him to accomplish his calling.
The Sons of Thunder (Luke 9:54 – 55) were a different story. Though they used their mother to make an unreasonable request (Luke 20:20 – 23) Christ kept them close to Himself because James was to be the first martyr of the group (Acts 12:1 -3). John, outlived the whole group but spent the last years of his life in exile on an island. Both needed the kind of support system to prepare them for the suffering they must experience in His prophecy of Matthew 20:23.
While Benjamin Franklin may have been a rascal at times, I love his quote: “Friends should be few and well chosen.” God calls us to a small group we can call our inner circle. Are we to love the way Christ loved – absolutely. Will we ever be able to reach that level of understanding the dynamics and intricacies of other’s lives to the point of experiencing what God experiences? Of course not. That is why we must inherit the new body and mind referred to in 1 Corinthians 15.
Ask God to show you who your inner circle should be. Make sure they espouse your beliefs and commitment to the King of the Universe. Then love them, invest in them, teach them, learn from them, hold them accountable and be a source of blessing. You can only do that for a few – and that’s OK with God.
Love Dad