I feel called to be an advocate. In fact, as followers of Christ I believe we are all called to be advocates: advocates for the Gospel, advocates for Christ's vision of redemption for souls and for our world, advocates for the hurting and broken who are close to God's heart. But as the following quote from Pastor Tim Keller reminds us:
There’s
no fruit in a Christian’s life without rejection. In the nativity, the
stable is a picture of rejection. Are we willing to follow our Lord into
the stable in order to bear fruit and be advocates for people who have
been rejected?
Some of the most important refinement and significant fruit is produced when we ourselves are broken and rejected, as Christ was. To better love and advocate for the hurting and broken, as Christ created us to do, He often calls us into brokenness and rejection so that we can better know Him and identify with Him, being made more into His image and seeing more of His vision. It is through this that we are able to more fully love those who Christ has called us to love and further His Kingdom in this hurting world.
But are we willing? Are we willing to go to the hard, uncomfortable places God might be calling us into? Are we willing to be challenged and rejected? It can be so hard but is so worth it to see more of Him and feel more of His love for others. I am convicted and challenged again as I write this and I pray with all my heart that I, and all Christ's followers, would be willing to go wherever He calls us so that we can know Him deeper and advocate more fully.
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