In the world of faith we look for signs of success. I mean that as we journey we look for things that let us know we are journeying well, that we are succeeding because we are success oriented, and we are competitive in our bones.

So along the way we count people, we count baptisms, we count programs…we count. We like to count because numbers are meaningful to us. Big numbers are good…little numbers…well, they are areas “in progress”. We do not say bad unless we are speaking of someone else’s ministry – in our own journey we provide context and reasons for why things are (and therefore should be) the way they are.

Our measure of success is a human thing. It is a human endeavour inlaid onto a Godly initiative…like rhinestones glued onto gold.

It is good to remember the following; God became human and dwelt among us. God walked as Christ through Israel for more than 30 years…three in intentional, public ministry.

God.

Really drive that point home…GOD led a ministry in the flesh on earth surrounded by a nation that he was INTENTIONALLY seeking out. He fed thousands (success); ;he healed the sick, the lame and the blind (success), he drove out demons (success), made water into wine (HUGE success), walked on water (success), and the list goes on…

He died.

Get that…three years into his ministry he was executed (success?)

He died nearly alone. His mother, an ex-prostitute and his best friend were at his side everyone else, the thousands who followed him through Israel, eleven of his closest friends, dozens of other disciples outside of the core….they all abandoned him (success?)

God.

God put on human flesh, ministered in our midst and was killed and died almost alone.

God.

Think about that when you feel like you are not very successful in your ministry (whatever that might be). When you feel like a failure. Or maybe think about it when you feel you are succeeding beyond your wildest dreams.

The kingdom of God is present and actively working amongst us and kingdom success looks radically different than human success.

When you die you may die alone but that is not really the point is it? Your ministry (your life in Christ) is not your ministry and how God is working is up to God and you may never know this side of death what effect it is having. That’s part of the deal.

This is not a sad thing…this is a freeing thing. This is why the yoke is light…because you don’t carry it at all – it carries you.

How remarkable do you want to be?

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” – John 1:9-11