I began using Substack to write about my experience of learning to walk with God for the following reasons:
So readers can follow my journey and check out past messages... like a blog.
So my messages will be more private than a blog.
God told me to.
The real answer and the only one I need is number 3: God told me to.
But I liked the idea of making my messages harder to find by hiding behind a paywall. Only those who were interested enough to invest financially would read them. But God made it clear to me He didn’t want me to hide.
I’m in a Bible study at my church. We’re going through the Bible Book Club Podcast (which I highly recommend), studying Exodus. The hosts, Susan Merrill and Heather Rubio, were talking about how Moses went away for forty years to be a shepherd working for Jethro, his father-in-law. He seemed to want to “languish in obscurity.”
But the hosts pointed out that God doesn’t call His people to languish in obscurity. Moses fought God’s appointment to speak to Pharaoh on behalf of God’s people, insisting he wasn’t the right person. God relented, offering to send Aaron with him, but He didn’t let Moses stay where he was.
We may have a time to rest, learn, or strengthen our faith, but if we’re with God, we have responsibilities. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave us a job to do.
“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”” - Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus gave a lot of commands. If you’re not familiar with them, I urge you to read the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) in the New Testament. But, when asked which were the most important commandments, He summed up the law and the prophets with this:
“Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” - Matthew 22:37-39
Okay, so you can love God without being around others, right?
Not really.
If you notice, it says, “A second is equally important.”
You can’t love God without loving people.
Think of it this way: Imagine your child (if you don’t have one, imagine you do). How would you feel about someone who was unkind to them? Or worse, hurt them? Later, that person comes to you and says how much they love you. Would you believe them?
I wouldn’t.
Personally, I’d be like, “If you love me, go apologize to my kid. Make it right.” You can’t love me and be mean to my child.
I imagine God feels the same. We’re His children. You can’t be unkind to one of His children, then sit at His feet telling Him how much you love Him. That’s probably why Jesus said,
“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” - Matthew 5:23-24
How you get along with God’s other children matters to Him.
You also can’t love others without ever coming into contact with them. You can’t hide away, spending time with only God, and claim to love Him. He has work for you to do. There is a hurting world who needs His love. How can they know if we don’t get out there and show them?
This all brings me back to my reason for keeping these messages free. God called me to share His love with everyone. Just as Moses couldn’t languish in obscurity shepherding sheep, I can’t hide behind a paywall. God called Moses to speak to Pharaoh, and He called me to write to you.
What has God called you to do? I pray you do it. Don’t hide!
You are loved,
J F Rogers
This is beautiful and a great reminder!