29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12 NIV)
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28 NIV)
17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. (John 21 NIV)
8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8 NIV)
In the last several months I have done a lot of reading about our current economic/political situation. One very interesting book I read was by a man who was exploring the demographic trends/cycles that led to our current point in history. One comment I see repeated in his writings is "Welcome to the new norm." He says that because of the demographic trends, their resulting economic impact, and the political decisions being made, we can expect about ten years of economic depression. So, therefore, we shouldn't expect our society to go back to the boom years of the 1990's and early 2000's. I've read stories about unemployed people who are still living a lifestyle as if they had that six figure salary -- evidently, they don't realize the New Norm is here to stay.
(By the way, don't let the title scare you; the book is really interesting: "The Great Depression Ahead: How to Prosper in the Crash that Follows the Greatest Boom in History" by Harry S. Dent.)
I think the disciples didn't get the New Norm either. One day they are fishing for a living, collecting taxes, doing normal every-day things. Then in a moment it all changes - a traveling rabbi invites them to "come, follow me" and they leave everything to go with him. They wander around Israel for about three years, listening to his teachings, watching him heal people and cast out demons, witnessing his interactions with the religious leaders at the time. Their time with him seems to culminate as they enter Jerusalem, their Leader on a donkey, surrounded by people praising him. It must have been an amazing moment.
And then, in a few days, it all came crashing down.
Jesus. Dead. Crucified like a criminal. Followers in hiding, fearing for their lives.
Dead.
Dead.
Dead.
Or.....alive???? Could it be?? Are Peter and John and the Marys right??? IS JESUS ALIVE?
A new norm indeed - has anyone ever risen from the dead???
And then Jesus reappears...and he fixes them a meal on the beach...and he shows them his scars...and he recommissions them to go and make disciples...to feed his sheep...to tell others what they have seen and heard.
Another new norm.
Everyday life. Then life with Jesus. Then life without Jesus. Then life empowered by the Holy Spirit to go tell people about Jesus.
Talk about your "norm" having changed!
The new economic norm we live with is that we must live differently than we did even two years ago. The new norm the disciples lived with is that they had witnessed the greatest event in history - God becoming man and living among us - and then were sent to tell people about it.
But some things haven't changed. The disciples call to go and make disciples is also our call. The imperative to go to the ends of the earth with the Good News of Jesus Christ is also ours. The commandment to Love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves remains. God does not change.
We may not have wanted a "new norm;" some of us did very well under the old "norm." But whether we like it or not it IS here. We either adapt or (figuratively) die. Even though few of us want to change or adapt, just for the fun of it, the good news is that GOD is with us. God does not leave us or forsake us. Instead, God calls us to be strong and courageous:
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9 NIV)
Even as we travel into this new norm, we can trust in God's promise that he will be with us wherever we go.
God of strength and courage, give us your heart for the lost, give us your wisdom for ministry, give us your viewpoint of our circumstances. And may our lives be a pleasing offering to you. Amen.
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