Serving Pancakes
Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
Chapter 9: Who Really Lives that Way?
Who are some of your favorite Bible personalities? Why? Some the of the responses last night included David who always knew that God was supreme, Esther who risked her life before King Xerxes “for such a time as this”, and Paul who Christ miraculously changed from one extreme lifestyle to
another; from hatred toward God to a passionate pursuit of Him, making him the most notable missionary the world has ever witnessed. What about modern heroes of the faith? Who in your life do you consider a hero? Why do we consider these people as heroes? What makes them a hero? For those that you consider heroes of the faith in your life, what makes them that way?
In chapter 9 of Crazy Love, Chan gives several different examples of those who did some pretty radical things in their life. We read stories about people like Nathan Barlow who was a medical doctor serving in Ethiopia. At one time had to leave the mission field to have some work done on his teeth. When he met with his dentist, he requested that all of his teeth be removed and replaced with false ones so he would never have to leave the mission field as a result of dental issues. We read about Jamie Lang who took her life savings to travel to Tanzania. While there she learned about a pregnant woman who was dying as a result of AIDS. Jamie decided to stay to help this mother and her soon to be son. Jamie took care of the baby and when the mother died, Jamie adopted him. The baby was HIV negative as the “morning after pill” the mother took caused a pre-mature birth which didn’t involve any blood and the baby avoided the dreaded disease. She taught them both about the love of God and just before the mother died, she accepted Christ as Savior. The ninth chapter is full of these kinds of examples. Examples of those who did some pretty radical things for God.
One of my favorite stories, however, is about the Robyson family. They weren’t missionaries. They were stricken with any kind of disease. They were simply willing servants. Every Christmas, the Robyson family celebrates by making their way to the local mission to prepare and serve pancakes for the homeless. Christmas for the Robyson’s has nothing to do with presents or the “me factor”. It was all about serving the homeless, an event the kids look forward to every year.
The reason I love the story about the Robyson’s so much is that it has everything to do with the “availability factor”. Maybe God is calling you to do something radical, but radical may just be defined as serving pancakes. Having a “crazy love” for God doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to go to Zimbabwe, or downsize your home to build and fund a third world orphanage, or give up or teeth for the sake of the Gospel. I mean, if that’s it, GREAT. Do it! Having a “crazy love” may simply mean pancakes. Perhaps it’s getting involved in church ministry, sharing the gospel, or being a mentor. Maybe it’s volunteering some hours with the Hope Clinic, Feed the Children, or the Rescue Mission. Whatever it may be, having a “crazy love” for God has everything to do with availability. Make yourself available. Look for opportunities to put your faith into action. That, my friends, is radical.
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” – Jesus (Matthew 16:24-26)
