I want to be a person of depth, giving my energies to things that are packed with meaning and/or purpose. Everyday I am confronted with the temptation to live on the surface of life, doing the minimum things necessary to keep the gears turning, 'killing time' by avoiding involvement with issues demanding effort or commitment on my part. But God calls me to a deeper life! The life He asks me to live is engaged in the work of the Kingdom, takes seriously His call to be a disciple, and is laser focused on knowing Jesus and making Him known.
Gordon MacDonald, pastor and author, tells of going to a convalescent home to visit his grandfather who was well advanced in age. Time had dulled the once keen edge of the old man's mind. He did not know where he was, what year it was, or even who many members of his family were, including Gordon. After attempting conversations with his grandfather, a faithful Christian through the years, Gordon prepared to leave and asked if he might pray with his grandfather, who readily agreed. Then, the old man asked to pray and a change came over his person. He prayed a prayer that called on God to bless those around him, a prayer that included Bible references, that was clear and focused. Then, he prayed for the man in front of him, "Lord, bless," and paused to ask, "who are you?" "I"m your grandson, Gordon." "Oh, yes, Lord bless Gordon..." When age and a failing mind had stripped nearly everything of value from this saint, including awareness of his own grandson's identity, what was at the depth of his being was revealed. He was, more than anything else, one who loved and knew God! (As told in The Life God Blesses)
All around me I see men and women living superficially. Their minds are "full" of vapidity; TV trivia, sports facts, or fashion news. They measure their worth by their attractiveness, their wealth, their physical agility, their IQ, their house, their car... anything but the things of God, for their true love is Self. "Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth." (Philippians 3:19, NLT) Day after day is wasted on things with no real spiritual purpose. They are living ghosts flitting through this world with empty souls. They cling to the illusion of eternal youth and why not? If a person is without depth of soul, aging is a terrible curse that slowly erodes his ability to enjoy earthly pleasures. Even many who claim to be Believers are caught up in a life of superficiality, praying shallow 'bless me' prayers endlessly, demanding that God give them lives of ease, that He leave them untroubled by the suffering of others who are held slaves to sin. In the reverse of what Jesus taught, they 'seek to served, not to serve!' Such Believers, someone has said, "play at their worship, and worship their play."
Jesus pointedly asks - "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?" (Matthew 16:24-26, NLT)
Whether you are 14, 40, or 74 - pursue God! Stop dabbling at this and that, passing the time in diversions. Get alone with God and find out what His will is for you and embrace it. Yes, it will demand effort. It will cost you your freedom to spend yourself on what you want. You will no longer be able to lay claim to ownership of yourself. He is Master of all, or not at all! And you will gain a life of purpose, one that pleases God- now and eternally. That's heavy stuff!
Here is a word from the Word -
"Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it. . . . There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross.
But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him."
(Philippians 3:16-21, The Message)
______________________
Be Thou my vision
Oh, Lord, of my heart.
All else be naught to me
save that Thou art,
Be my best thought
by day and by night,
waking or sleeping,
Thy Presence,
my Light.
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment