My grandmother would never leave the house if the laundry machine was still washing. Decades earlier, her washing machine leaked when she ran to the store. From that day on, she decided to never leave the house until the wash was done. She would never trust a laundry machine again.
I would chuckle at my grandfather waiting impatiently for the wash cycle to end so we could go places. Yet, I have to admit, I am often like my grandma. I do not know if I can really trust what is left behind. My obsession does not include washing machines. Instead, I show my lack of trust in the Lord to handle situations if I have to leave them behind. Surely, the God of the universe needs my help in “fixing” circumstances or “helping” people.
God does not need our assistance. If He tells us to go or to do something, we have to trust He is able to take us where He wants us to be as well as take care of who or what we leave behind. The shepherds are a great example of a group of people who trusted God to take care of what they had to leave.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. (Luke 2:8-17)
When the shepherds went to Bethlehem, they had to trust God to care for their sheep. They left the most helpless animal behind in order to do what God had told them to do. The shepherds had to trust the Lord to protect the sheep when they left the sheep behind. The sheep were their livelihood. Each sheep represented a paycheck. The shepherds had to trust God that He was their provision when they left their sheep behind. Their work as shepherds was to be with sheep. They had to trust God with their reputation and what others would say when they left their sheep behind.
The Lord will watch over whatever or whoever we leave behind to follow His will. What have we been called to do? How often have we talked ourselves out of obedience because of what we had to leave behind? It is not easy to leave but we must trust God, for not only where we are going but also for what we are leaving behind.
When we leave things behind, God will provide for us. We can be assured that when we follow His plan, the Lord will take care of our needs. I heard Tony Evans once say, “Where God guides, He provides.” When we step out in faith in the place He leads us, God will take care of us in amazing ways! We must obey His will, despite who or what cannot come with us. We show our faith by believing and acting upon the truth that God alone is our provision.
When we leave people behind, God will defend us. Others may critique what we do, but God will have the final say. I watched a documentary of Hudson Taylor. He was criticized for his mission work and methods in China. He left behind the traditional methods of reaching people, even the traditional ways of dress for an Englishman. He cut his hair like a Chinese man and wore the native dress. It was scandalous at the time and many spoke against him. However, his ministry grew into one that still sends out missionaries today, hundreds of years after he began his work!
The shepherds left the sheep behind and encountered Jesus! Because they did, other lives were impacted as well.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (Luke 2:8-18)
What or who is God telling us to leave behind? We must leave! When we do, we will encounter Jesus! Then, we will experience God’s miracle in and through our lives and others will be changed!