Chosen people

How special does it feel to be some one's friend? I think we can assume it is a good feeling. To be without friends is to be left all alone with little to do. Today's lectionary reading in John's Gospel is another of what are sometimes called farewell discourse. It was a point in his ministry where Jesus was preparing for the continuing of the mission by his disciples after he had gone. He was, we could say, getting them ready for service.

"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is about. I have called you friends, because I have disclosed to you everything that I heard from my Father." So now the disciples become friends and as such are taken into Jesus' confidence to prepare them for service. No longer servants, they are now in the picture. From now on they take on greater responsibility as friends of Jesus.

Speaking to us in 2009 the passage is preparing us for intensive service in spreading the good news. Of course, in 2009 it is not the most popular talking point. Christianity is not losing but has lost its popularity. So we are being prepared to fight a battle where the odds are heavily against us. But battles have been tilted against eventual winners before. The prophets of old found their work was just as hard and just as unpopular. But in the Old Testament we are reminded through the story of David and Goliath that even when the odds are very uneven we can still achieve our aims.

It is not be be forgotten that we are not just friends of Jesus but chosen friends of him. Jesus chooses us by calling us to service. So now we consider the new status of chosen friends. That makes us vital to the cause. Of that there can be no doubt. Two weeks ago I considered the idea of the "Good Shepherd". There is a popular shepherd image where the man carries a tiny lamb home to be cared for individually by his fire. Often, this image is treated as an "adorable fluffy little creature" picture. Yet, when you examine it closely the tiny lamb is important to the shepherd because he eventually wants to sell it at market. After all, he has to live! But don't consider this view as cynical for there can be no doubt that we too are in that same position where God is concerned. In a very real way God has invested in us.

If God has not invested in us then how will he get his job of salvation done? We are his only hands and his only feet. So, once again we are elevated - this time to the status of being indispensable. But don't let it go to your head because there is a lot of hard work involved! As chosen people much is expected of us. We may even be required to lay down our lives in this sort of service. Martyrs are not confined to the past. As I write this there are Christians serving in some very dangerous places where their lives are on the line.

One organisation that works all over the world helping to bring people all that they need is Mission Aviation Fellowship. I am proud to be their area representative for North Wales. We have over 180 light aircraft active throughout the world. Every three minutes an MAF aircraft takes of or lands somewhere in the world. There are many support staff behind our pilots. Whole families find themselves living in unusual circumstances as this incredible airline ferries doctors, nurses, water engineers, farming advisers, pastors and evangelists to the "coal face".

Over the past five years we have lost three pilots in Papua New Guinea as the work has been pushed forward in the name of Jesus.

So it still remains true that sometimes lives are laid down in the service of God. This work continues day by day and we never say "no, we cannot go". We use the term "Flying for Life" as our strap line. It really does describe the work we do. Many, many people receive vital medical intervention that enhances their life. In one case a large group who wanted desperately to get treatment for eye cataracts faced two days of travel behind two tractors over dreadful terrain to go 40 miles to the place where operations were taking place. One man seeing his nurse, after the operation to restore his sight, expressed a desire to marry her! Such is the effect of modern medical care out in the field.

You can see from this that many Christians see themselves as vital parts of a great mission commissioned by God. They are people who have c been chosen, chosen to be friends of Jesus. They do what he would be doing if he were involved in his ministry in this age. They have answered his call and are proud to be numbered among his friends. In our own individual ways we have to emulate this mission activity by responding to the call of Jesus.

How special is it to be a friend of Jesus? Extra special!!!