How does this all look...
So, one would ask, how does it work to truly follow Jesus? How do we prioritize our lives outwardly so they accurately reflect what we believe to be true inwardly? I've been pondering this for quite some time -- in what I do, how do we gauge success? Is it attendance, or is it impact -- are those who come being changed and allowing faith to dictate thier actions/motivations/reasons for being and doing? In my kids -- do they see us (me and Kari) living out what we believe, being real and honest about the fact that we don't have it all together, but also being focused on Jesus so that our lives in Him flow out, onto, and into thier lives? How do we do it? What a great question posed in response to the post from yesterday...here is my thought for today on that...
I think it's all about perspective. I was at Caribou Coffee on Ingersoll today working on a big paper due next week, the topic being evangelism and discipleship. I've always really loved the idea of discipleship, and I think that is what I'm really wired up to do as a pastor/leader type guy. To help others grow deeper in their relationships. Anyway, I was looking around -- med students from DMU, business professionals, and rich looking moms. I could hear snippets of conversations, and I got to wondering about motivation. Why do these folks do what they do? What makes them get up, do thier daily deal, and fall asleep restfully at night? I found myself praying that the obessions of this world wouldn't cloud them and me, but that the light of truth found in Jesus would illuminate them (and me) and help us see ourselves and the world as it is meant to be. Read John 5:24...
Short version, Jesus is talking about being eternal NOW...that when we have put our faith in him, our perspective changes and we don't have to look at life as 80 years here and then we die, but we pass out of the shadow of death and into eternal life here and now. Our existence isn't limited anymore, and the stuff of earth doesn't need to consume us as our big picture deal is so much better than what we wear, how we look, or how much we bank.
So how do we do it? Start by putting your feet on the floor everyday, and try to wrap your non-caffinated mind around your eternal existance. Whoa. Then, look at the list for the day. There is stuff that has to be done, but what should we prioritize? I gotta think that if we look with eternal eyes at the daily grind, it will get clearer to each of us what we ought to focus on, and what we can let slide until a later, more opportune time. Most of all, I hope we can understand that as people, we are gonna goof it up. We simply try to grow daily in our understanding of why we are here, and to get closer to the One who authored our stories. In doing that, I think we can't NOT become more like Him, which is the overall goal anyway...
4 comments:
ditto, Brent -- the idea of discipleship is very cool. I first learned what the meant when we went through 40 days of purpose. "TO BECOME MORE LIKE CHRIST" Holy cow, if we can get DISCIPLESHIP figured out -- that pretty much takes care of everything else. It's that deepening that is tough -- as the world keeps spinning.
Believe me, I'm jealous that you have the "opportunity"/time to do all this great studying. There are times that I want the "excuse" to study in-depth, like a student, BUT - I don't want to be graded -- I just want to soak up the knowledge of the profs & THE KING!
Sorry, but I'm still not sure how to manage my God-given 24-hours. You'd think by now I'd have figured that one out, huh?
peace.
that's part of the deal...sometimes i think if we had it all figured out, we wouldn't 'need' God. so maybe the inability to do everything right is another pointer to our overall need as humans...
when you get it ironed out, let me know!
As I ponder how I am truly following Jesus, I find myself struggling with the fact that as we enter the advent season in anticipation of celbrating our Savior's birth, I feel farther away from him than in recent months due to priorities. I am floored today as I sit back and look at what has become of our society during the Christmas season and how I have let it affect me. Every year I swear I'm not going to lose sight of what this is all about, yet here I am today stressing over the fact that I haven't started shopping, decorating isn't done,cards haven't been figured out, don't know for sure where we will be for Christmas, haven't arranged babysitters for holiday parties (some of which the focus doesn't have anything to do with Jesus), and the list goes on. I just want to cry. Evey year I swear that I am going to draw the line, and yet I find myself here once again. I can't remember the last time I felt so empty. I know it's because my actions are not in line with my beliefs. I'm pretty sure that Jesus could give a rip about all the "stuff" I have referred to above. How do I turn it off? What message do these actions send to my kids? How do I get it back to simplicity and still keep the wonder and amazement of Jesus birth in my kiddos? Any thoughts? Am I the only one feeling this way? Is this just a woman thing? :)
OK...so failing to focus on Christ is not good. But please don't tell me that all the nuttiness around Christmas can't be Christ focused! Come on! The shopping is because you are GIVING - gifts, meals, time! The cards are for reaching out, connecting. The decorating is for the BIRTHDAY party! Jesus loved parties and you are doing is getting ready for his party. We've all convinced ourselves that if we do the Christmas "thing," we're terrible Christians. Do it for Jesus! Decorating is one of those rare opportunities we get to just do something for Jesus - without benefiting anyone else...just him! Think Mary and the perfume. Decorate for Jesus. Send cards with his Word printed all over it! Give generously! Celebrate it! God left the perfection of Heaven, became man to dwell among us, to die for us. This is something to celebrate!!!
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