What Moves You?

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless,

like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9:36-38

 

The NFL has been running an advertising campaign about the importance of children being active and healthy called Play60.  I was watching one of the commercials the other day and was caught by the commercial’s motto, “What moves you?”

 

They could have asked a number of questions, what gets you excited to exercise, or what kind of exercise do you want to try out?  Why you’re interested in getting healthy, but they instead chose to ask, what moves you?

 

As a follower of Jesus I began to think, what moves you?  Not what do you like to talk about, or what do you like to write about, or what do you have a passion for reading about, but what moves you?  Movement can be different from passion or interest.  Bill Hybels describes it as the “holy discontent” that God has placed inside of you.  Your holy discontent is the thing that drives you to not just an emotional response or interest, but causes a tangible reaction.  It’s the thing that makes you like Popeye say, “That’s all I can stands and I can’t stands no more.”

 

God placed that discontent in you for a purpose.  You might the only person who sees something, and your role is helping bring it to light.  Your action might move others to rally behind the cause and make a huge impact.  Your experience with the needs of children in the community causes you to become a mentor, or seeing the number of families struggling to make ends meet may cause you to start a food pantry.  You see the number of kids and youth who need the Good News, and a safe place to meet God, and can’t help but to make sure they have a place to do that.

 

Your holy discontent was put there by God with a purpose.  It’s not to be ignored, or talked away, but instead pushes you to move, to use your gifts and passion to make an impact in the world around you.  So the question is what moves you?  And why aren’t you moving yet?

 

Pastor Bill

 

Discussion Questions

  1. What moves you?
  2. How might you ignite that holy discontent?