Return To Sender
I sit here in Costa Rica this morning, sent by Calvary Church to check out and make preparations for a summer mission project that we will be leading in August. It is very beautiful and the birds singing out their worship to their creator is inspiring. This is only a short trip, for on Wednesday I return to Calvary.
I want to focus our attention on a little bit longer journey that each of us are on. To do this I turn to one of the most intimate passages in Scripture. If anyone lived the inside out life, it was Jesus. His words are sometimes obscure and sometimes direct, but he always has a purpose. Of all his words, I am struck by the intimacy expressed when he speaks with God the Father. The passage that I want to take a few posts to get through is John 17. In fact, before you read further, let me encourage you to read those 26 verses of Chapter 17.
Before this passage in John, Jesus has always said things like “the hour is coming” or “the hour has not yet come”, but now Jesus says “the hour has come”!! (Reminds me of a professor I had in my undergrad studies at CIU, Dr. Belcher, who always began his class in a booming voice saying “The hour has arrived”…but that has nothing to do with what we are discussing here) Jesus is going to speak here to the heart of why he has come, and actually the heart of why he was SENT. Jesus is acknowledging that he is returning to His sender. 
This is different than the Return To Sender stamp that you might see on a piece of mail that was addressed wrong or didn’t have adequate postage, for that did not accomplish its purpose. This “Return to Sender” is returning BECAUSE the exact purpose was accomplished.
“I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” -John 17.4
Isn’t this a verse that each one of us who are seeking to live an inside out life should always set in our hearts and pray that we might be able to say when our time comes to return to our sender? You see, the inside out life is simply living out our eternal life (verse 3, knowing the Father and Jesus!) so that others can see the Father and for Him to receive the credit for all things good coming out of us. This passage is so rich with challenges of how we are sent on this journey that I want to slowly step through it with you all. Will you join me in discovering more?
My final thought for today is, what is the work that He has given us to do?? Do you know why you are here?
I am learning every step of the way, more and more, of why I am here on the earth and what is the work He has given me to do. Meanwhile, I know why I have been sent to Costa Rica, and in the next few days I hope to accomplish those things before returning home. But maybe there is more to discover here too!