WRITTEN BY TIM LABRECHE
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. (Luke 9:1-6, NIV)
At the end of December we celebrated a milestone birthday for my wife. We had family come in from both Michigan and California. I get to see our family from Michigan at least once a year, but not her cousin Jen from California. Sheila has been able to spend time with her, but I haven’t seen her in at least ten to twelve years. She came in a day early, and we went to Archie’s for dinner. As we sat in the bar area waiting for our table, Jen asked me a question. She asked, “So, what have you been up to?” Maybe it was the exhaustion I was experiencing, but I really couldn’t come up with a single thing at that moment.
The fact is, there is so much going on. Through my work here at Side by Side, my involvement in my church and community, and what I get to do with my family and friends, there is so much I’ve been up to. And it’s sweet, it’s not just me that’s doing the work. I’m working side-by-side with men and women who have the same vision and mission in the projects that we are undertaking. Not only with these incredible similarly minded people, but also with the Holy Spirit.
There is also a small group of friends who have been praying and asking for godly wisdom and direction for something. One day in December, as we were praying, I felt the word ‘tandem’ impressed on my heart. Now, when you think of tandem, you might think of a tandem bicycle. You might think of having two horses pulling in tandem. If you’re adventurous, images of tandem skydiving might even come to mind. So, for the purposes of what we were praying for, any one of those would have been applicable.
A few days after that time of prayer, I listened to a message from a pastor who we used to sit under in West Michigan. He started a series for the church called Tandem. In Luke 9, Jesus spoke to the people about the Kingdom of God and He healed those who needed healing. His actions Jesus always modeled actions that reinforced his words. In the same regard, His words also reinforced his actions. Word and deed worked in tandem.
“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, NIV)
When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. (Luke 9:10-11, NIV)
As God’s ambassadors, we are instructed to make disciples of all men, preaching the Good News found in Scripture. But we must also follow Jesus’ example of having what we do match what we say. Jesus was an incredible example of this.
This year, our theme is Tandem. We’ll be sharing stories and examples of what it’s like to not only have our actions match our words but what it looks like to work side-by-side with not just each other but yoked with the Holy Spirit. We’ll share stories from our personal lives, and situations we’ve experienced at both Side by Side and Habitué. I’m really looking forward to what our God will bring for each month. I hope you’ll join us.
