Remember the days of dating? For some of us, it was a long, long time ago. When I met that special 'someone,' [who really understands the mixture of elements that makes her that 'someone,'] I wanted to get to know Bev better. That meant raising my level of commitment to her. We quickly moved from just being acquainted to seeing each other frequently, not dating anyone else that Summer of '74. We were 'going steady!' What do that call it now? Then, in the Fall, we became engaged, pledged to marry. Impatient as I was (and am!) we moved quickly to marriage in January, 1975, when I made an irrevocable pledge of faithful, singular love made to her as a covenant before God. Sustaining our intimacy has required absolute fidelity through the years and a willingness to consider her needs at least, if not more, important than my own. The glory is -- each stage brought new depth of relationship, new intimacy.
When we come to Christ, and begin to love Him, there is a similar pattern of escalating commitment. That commitment isn't just about saying the right words, either. Our professions of devotion must be accompanied by appropriate actions that demonstrate the veracity of our words. James asks us - what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone. (James 2:14, NLT) He is not implying that our good deeds are done for the purpose of earning merit badges for our holy sash to show everybody what a great Christian we are! His point is that IF we are deeply committed, in faith, to being a follower of Christ Jesus, there will be an observable effect on our lives that extends beyond songs and prayers on Sunday morning. In chapter one, he admonishes us to be sincere about our obedience. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! (James 1:22, The Message)
That kind of commitment allows us to grow deeper in Christ. Both what we believe and how we live are intertwined in this thing called Christianity. We err seriously if we elevate either over the other. Too much emphasis on belief, on sound doctrine, and we will end up with ideas, theoretical doctrine, that float unattached to the day to day world in which we live. Too much emphasis on actions and we will end up with a list of religious rules as long as our arm, captives of our guilty consciences, and driven to miserable shame. We believe the brilliant Word- that Christ loves and saves us- that what is done is totally effective on our behalf to make us again the sons and daughters of God. And then, gratefully, we grow in commitment, letting the evidence of the Spirit's life show as we live joyfully in obedience to Him.
Intimacy in a marriage relationship can get 'stuck' when one spouse comes to a point where he or she is unwilling to surrender autonomy. He thinks, "She cannot own my Saturday mornings, and resists all her efforts to be a part of his weekend." Or he holds back a portion of his money to spend exclusively for his own pleasure, or she continues to have friends that he is not allowed to know ... and until the conflict or difference in understanding is resolved, their intimacy cannot grow. What marriage partners fail to grasp in that moment is that in surrender, they surely lose something, but they gain something of greater value than what they release! What can compare to a deep, loving, and intimate relationship with a spouse who serves you with her whole heart? She is released from fear that she will be diminished or taken advantage of when she sees you love her in a way that is costly, but true!
Similarly, we can become stuck, unable to grow in our Christ love. The Holy Spirit will not allow us to hold onto some little part of our life, as though it had nothing to do with the Lordship of Jesus. Our disobedience breaks the close loving fellowship with Him. He asks us to love Him totally! That 'totally' grows over time. Frightening thought to you? Don't let it be. Yes, serving Him means that we lose ourselves -- but what we gain is of such worth that what we lose is inconsiderable!
Here's a word from the Word to take with you today... "you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:20, NIV)
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