SIMPLICITY - By Daniel J. Musokwa

Source: Google Images

Simplicity 

I have, of late, been thinking about the simplicity of the Gospel. It is so easy to get caught up in the so-called “higher revelations” and forget that God speaks the language of children… He is impressed by child-like faith. 

And really sometimes what we call spiritual ‘revelation’ is nothing more than just human intelligence at work. Some people have a much higher intelligence-quotient than others, they can think fast and in a flash of a second they can link-up Scripture, history, general knowledge, predictive deduction and a little psychology to come up with a stunning ‘revelation’.

Simplicity 

We love to hear these revelations but I find that the only revelation that changes you truly is the one you've had yourself because of your walk with God. People who go around chasing revelations from minister to minister or church to church will never grow into responsible Christians.

Simplicity 

I look at how Jesus began His ministry and I’m tempted to say that I too have at some point made this grave error. The “higher” things don’t build character… it is the simple things. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth… blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy… blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God… blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God… be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful.” These words are so simplistic and yet they have such a ring of power to them. Everything that we are as God’s sons should be built on this foundation.

But I too have found myself seeking ‘wisdom’ in empty religious sayings and notion… away from this life-giving simplicity. So sad that religious rhetoric has replaced God’s life of simplicity in us.

Simplicity

So many times we find ourselves in a land I call Eisegesia… reading too much into and over-interpreting the Biblical text. I’d rather learn to be merciful, kind and loving than to know the word “mercy” in Ancient Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin and Ancient Nubian.

Simplicity 

My heart yearns for simplicity of a God who would choose to entrust His own birth into the hands of a simple teenage girl… a God who would choose to come to Earth to show His creation the way of love instead of showing them how He balanced the equations of planetary centripetal force and angular velocity.

Simplicity

“But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, so that you may become sons of your Father in Heaven. For He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax-collectors do so? Therefore be perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” – Jesus Christ (Mat 5:44-48)

Source: Google Images

Simplicity

If all of religion was Matthew 5:44-48… it would be sufficient. May I learn to cause the sun of my blessing to rise upon the evil and the good, and the rain of my peace to water the just and the unjust… just like my Father. For what good is my Christianity if the world finds in me a judge instead of an impartial blessor of the just and unjust alike.

Simplicity 

It eludes complicated hearts to find a nesting place in brokenness.

The ONE THING that is needed...

Source: Google Images

When Jesus was invited to Martha, Mary and Lazarus’ place, Martha was busy serving, a perfectly normal thing for a host or hostess to do to make their guests feel welcome. Mary decided to hang out with Jesus and the other guests in the living room listening to Him and learning at His feet.

After toiling alone for a while, Martha wasn't amused. She stormed out of kitchen blaming both Jesus and Mary for the situation she was in. Heck, she even ordered Jesus to do what she thought was the right thing at the time – “Lord… tell her to help me” - the audacity, the gall!

Let’s pick up the conversation, shall we?

⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

⁴¹ And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. ⁴² But ONE THING is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:40-42 NKJV (Emphasis added)

Serving in itself isn't a bad thing, but the motive behind our serving is what matters. What motivates us to serve? Is it the love of God in us compelling us to serve or are we busy serving to save our reputations? Are we trying to impress God – as if we can – by our serving, so He’ll somehow bless us in an area of lack in our lives? Or perhaps we are seeking the praise of men…motives for serving in whatever capacity are as varied as one could care to list, so yeah…

Just as Martha was distracted with much serving and ended up accusing and blaming Jesus and her sister Mary, we too can get distracted with many things, not necessarily sinful things, but just much activity in the name of serving or ministering. In the end we will fall into what I'll term as the "Martha Syndrome" - accusing God of not caring and our brothers and sisters of deserting us - while the truth is, all this time they have been enjoying the very presence of God and we are the ones who are troubled, worried and distracted by many things...Just because we have neglected that ONE THING that is needed - fellowshipping with GOD!

Now beloved, God’s presence is right where you are, He is Omnipresent, but it gets better, He is in you by His Holy Spirit, you are one with Him. No need of getting all weird and spooky, simply believe His Word and let His love compel you to serve in the right way and at the right time. Mary got to anoint Jesus before His death because she did the ONE THING needed – she sat at His feet and soaked in His Word. Remember the women who went to the grave to anoint Jesus’ body when He was buried and found the tomb empty? They missed out on an opportunity that only Mary had. 

There is tremendous value in doing the ONE THING – soaking in the presence and Word of God.

King David said it this way:

Source: Google Images

ONE THING have I asked of the Lord,
    that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
    and to inquire in his temple. – Psalm 27:4 ESV (Emphasis added)

Today, because of what Jesus did for us, we have what David could only desire, we are God’s dwelling place, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We have received the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God, now may the eyes of our understanding be enlightened that we may know the hope He has called us to and what we have in and through Him as per Ephesians 1:17-23.

Blessings!