Jesus Doesn’t Do Tagbacks

Don’t blink or Summer 2015 will be over, in the books. Done.

That startles me.

I made all sorts of promises to myself when the weather started warming up here in northeast Louisiana. This summer I would work less and spend more time on the lake or in the pool, less time being a grownup and more time playing like a kid. And here we are, well into August and I’m having my own little come to Jesus meeting over the realization that, as hot as it is, this season is passing all too quickly. I’m also renewing my promise. As Yogi would say, “It ain’t over, ’til it’s over.” Mark my words, y’all. Before the summer’s out, this belle is going to play Marco Polo ’til her fingers shrivel.

You do remember Marco Polo? That’s the pool game where the person who is “It” closes his or her eyes and chases the rest of the players around hollering “Marco!” while listening for them to respond with “Polo”– all this to give the designated chaser a fair chance at tagging them. By the way, if I could make the rules there would be no tag-backs in Marco Polo, ever. It’s no fun when the tagged tags the tagger. And it’s unbiblical on top of that!

Okay, so I’m joking about that unbiblical part, but I was thinking about tag backs earlier in the light of the gospel. Humor me.

Jesus came and revealed Himself as the Light of the world and then He said to all who would believe in Him, “Now, you be the light.” He came as the Bread from heaven and then He told us to feed His sheep. He came as the Teacher and He told us to pass on His teachings.

 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28: 18-20

Granted, this is going to be an oversimplification, but I think we’re often guilty of using our prayers to tag Jesus back, so to speak, thus avoiding His directive and missing the opportunity to join Him in His transforming work.

Blink, and this world is going to pass away. It’s past time for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and no tag backs!

Hugs, Shellie