journey onWord with us

Pressed down by the drumming din of the everyday and sometimes backbreaking burden of our cares and suffering, we lose the sense of awe and wonder we once possessed.  It was hard-wired into us at the time of conception.  It is a truth of the image of God in which we were made.  It was most true of us as children, when our cares were so small and our eyes and imagination were so big.  It becomes a victim of the process of “maturing” and repeated exposure to the responsibilities and burdens of adulthood.  When we are young, what we see is so small but how we see it is so expansive.  As we arrive at our middleish years, what we see and bear is so expansive, but how we see it is so ordinary and confining.

I was reminded of this truth while reading a passage in Romans during my lent focus this year – “renewing my mind.”  I wish there was time and space to tell the story of how I ended up there, but suffice it say I began considering chapter 8 verses 5-11 and what they spoke into my desire to renew my mind.  These verses speak of the perils of a life and mind controlled by the sin nature.  They speak of the sin nature being hostile to God; how I simply cannot please Him if I allow my sin nature to control me.  It was truth that hit the bullseye of my lent focus with pinpoint accuracy.

I have adopted a practice when reading specific verses (or short passages of scripture).  I typically read backward and forward at least a few verses to ensure I have the proper context.  I have routinely found value in doing so.  At times I am reminded of how easy it is to take or use scripture out of context.  At others my understanding, application or experience of scripture deepens, because of the truth that immediately precedes or follows.  I found the latter when I chose to read forward from verse eleven.

“Mark, you are not forced to do what your sinful nature urges — pleads with — you to do.”  (verse 12 personalized)  “And your choice is literally a life and death thing.” (the same for verse 13)  How could I stop reading?!

A break in the text happens at the end of verse 17 in the New Living Translation.  The final sentence of that verse says, “But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”  It seemed a proper stopping point.  I had wandered a whole five verses from my target passage.  But something (or Someone) suggested I continue.  Whether it was the unsettledness that “we must also share his suffering” naturally creates or the heading of the next section of verses (The Future Glory), I chose to read on.  Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.”  Ahhhh, yes!  That is our great hope, right?!  The drumming din and sometimes backbreaking burdens of our here and now will one day be things of our forgotten former selves, life and world.  God completely destroys this fallen and broken world and replaces it with the one He intended it to be.  Read on, Mark!

For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.
Romans 8:19-21

It would likely have looked like I was “having a moment” had someone walked into the room as I finished reading the final words of those verses.  I was a million miles from my sin nature, caught up in the glory of the omnipotent Creator!  Creation, in all its splendor, is being held against its will.  The stunning panorama of the Grand Canyon, the macro lens brilliance of a dragonfly’s wings, the fathomless complexity of the human brain, the breathtaking beauty of a newborn baby’s fingers and toes … all mere shadows of God’s creative power.  Awe-inspiring creation which is wholly incomplete and being held against its will.

I pray you will join me in rekindling the sense of awe and wonder you possessed as a child.  Open your eyes and ears to the miraculously specific ways God enters into your everyday.  Be still.  Abide.  Breathe in God’s aromatic goodness.  Stand still long enough to take notice.  Flush the filters which obscure His presence all around you, which cause you to live moderately and carefully.  Be bold.  Be courageous.  Get lost in the wonder.  Let Him.  Look for Him.

Reclaim your childlike faith and become awash in wonder.

At the Presidential debate last week, one of the candidates stated that was he labeled with the term whiner. The label came because of his frustration over not being asked many questions. The candidate — Dr. Ben Carson — who was labeled with that term is a great man and, in my estimation, is anything but a whiner. His mild-mannered demeanor has relegated him to the background during (what I believe are) less than “presidential” debates. Nevertheless, the term was used and, like it or not, it is a relevant phrase in our daily lives.

Don’t you hate to hear people whine about their circumstances? There is a part of me that cringes when someone goes on about their negative plight while forgetting all the blessings God has bestowed on them. We have all experienced His blessings and yet, somehow can easily develop a whining spirit that poisons our minds and exits our lips on a regular basis. I must admit, during my prayer time on Saturday, confession needed to be made about whining. I had read about the children of Israel, and was reminded anew of the depth of their complaining. They were whiners, but I had also found reason to be convicted of my own whining.

Manna had become God’s food of choice for the children of Israel … and there was some grumbling. Being miraculously freed from Egypt and supernaturally guided and fed by God had lost some of its specialness to the people. In the language of The Message, note the scene from Numbers chapter eleven:

The riffraff among the people had a craving and soon they had the People of Israel whining, “Why can’t we have meat? We ate fish in Egypt—and got it free!—to say nothing of the cucumbers and melons, the leeks and onions and garlic. But nothing tastes good out here; all we get is manna, manna, manna.”

The riffraff (non-Israelites) had come out of Egypt with the Israelites and it didn’t take them long in the desert to be discontented. They infected the Israelites. Moses was caught in the middle and was exceedingly unhappy about it. In verse ten of the same chapter we find these words:

 Moses heard the whining, all those families whining in front of their tents. God’s anger blazed up. Moses saw that things were in a bad way. 

The remainder of the chapter is dramatic, to say the least. The people whined for meat and they got meat. The Message gives God’s perspective clearly in verses eighteen through twenty.

Tell the people, “Consecrate yourselves. Get ready for tomorrow when you’re going to eat meat. You’ve been whining to God, ‘We want meat; give us meat. We had a better life in Egypt.’ God has heard your whining and he’s going to give you meat. You’re going to eat meat. And it’s not just for a day that you’ll eat meat, and not two days, or five or ten or twenty, but for a whole month. You’re going to eat meat until it’s coming out your nostrils. You’re going to be so sick of meat that you’ll throw up at the mere mention of it. And here’s why: Because you have rejected God who is right here among you, whining to his face, ‘Oh, why did we ever have to leave Egypt?’”

Without a doubt, it’s easy to look with disdain on the lack of thankfulness and whining by the children of Israel. But don’t we also whine over far less difficult circumstances? I don’t want to admit it, but for me the answer is sometimes yes. What about you? Could it be that our perspective gets tainted by what is happening right now and by our lack of ability to control the events and people in our lives? Living horizontally always casts a view of what isn’t right, and what we can’t control. Living vertically (with eyes fixed on Christ) will always lend perspective to what really matters and God’s control over it. If He wants manna for our lives who are we to say, “Give us meat.”

Last week, I missed the opportunity to relish what God was doing, and became a little of what I hate … a whiner. God’s Word gave me a dramatic picture of the Israelites and I was convicted to confess my sin. What about you? Are you missing the blessings and focusing on all that is “not right”? Confess it, and determine to let Christ and His perspective dominate your life this week!

Airline encounters have often been interesting experiences for me. Now my journey is a pattern of one discount airline after another. Life on a discount has brought me a little humor, caused some frustration, and saved me a few dollars. Today’s flight is telling me a lot about the value placed on services. Consider this brief breakdown of my charges for a flight (non-stop) from Tampa to Cleveland …. The ticket was $34.06 (yay!) for my flight. However, when you throw in my exit row seat (long legs) at $28, and my carry-on (small) $45, it seems the value of my comfort and stuff has out priced my soul. Obviously, my “disgust” is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but reality tells us that it is easy to place greater value on our comfort and stuff, than on the souls of mankind.

To keep going with the airline theme, let me share a great experience from over 30 years ago on an evening flight with my wife. Upon arriving at the gate, I noticed an elderly lady who had flown on a flight with us the year before! I was concerned that it wasn’t a coincidence, and decided that I needed to share Christ with her. Amazingly enough she sat in the row behind us, with an empty seat next to her. I slipped back to her, shared the gospel and she accepted Christ! That was a rare occurrence, but one I will never forget. I am often dismayed that my youthful boldness has drifted to and elder temperance.

That truth revealed itself a few weeks ago in teaching on the calling of one of the apostles. My Bible reading in Mark chapter two this week referenced the event. Levi, the son of Alphaeus, the tax collector, was called by Jesus. You probably know him better as Matthew. What happened after the calling is what challenged me anew. Look at the words from Mark 2:15-17 as Jesus reclined at the table.

 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.  And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

My youthful enthusiasm relates well to the lesson in love noted in the above passage. My elder temperance seems to equate well with my laughable airline illustration of undervaluing souls. You see, I love people, but spend most of my discretionary time with Christ-followers. Jesus came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Shouldn’t I intentionally model spending time with those yet outside the family of faith, as an ambassador of the Savior? You and I both know the answer.

While teaching the lesson on Matthew, I thought about some great neighbors who my wife and I have become friendly with, but never really engaged. I choose now to believe that we should, and we have decided to extend the friendship. Isn’t that what Christ would want us to do?  Our relationship needs to be natural, and God will lead us as we explore it.

In some ways it is easier to speak with a stranger at 30,000 feet than a friend from the neighborhood.  However, both are important. The value of a soul is worth stepping out … even as I get older!

Today as you step outside … look around and engage. Souls are at stake!

Last Friday, our daughter faced a dilemma while having lunch with a good friend. In the midst of a meaningful discussion, her friend kept looking at her cell phone. As my wife relayed the details of the story, I found it a bit humorous, since I get frustrated with my daughter’s attachment to her phone. My frustration likely causes the same reaction in my wife, since she thinks that I am too attached to my phone. And on and on it goes …

My rambling point is that most people are now so tied to hand-held technology that family meals, workplace meetings, meaningful discussions and relaxing evenings have fallen prey to our hand-held addiction. How often are meetings interrupted with the words, “I’m sorry but I have to take this call” or even if the call is not taken, a text response is sent? All the while interrupting what was happening! Please don’t stop reading, thinking this is just another article about the evils of cell phones.  I would prefer, instead, that my daughter’s innocent story serve as a reminder to us of the lack of emotional, spiritual and physical rest that is vital for the soul.

My thoughts about this topic came from several sources … one being my reading of Leviticus. Chapter twenty-five tells of a Sabbath rest for land.

The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the Lord. For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits, but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard.”
Leviticus 25:1-4

God’s design was for his people to rest every seventh day and, interesting enough, He ordered them to let the land rest every seventh year. People needed to be refreshed and the land needed reviving. My mind went to how diminished the thought of a Sabbath rest is today … or any rest for that matter! And hand-held technology is just a symptom.

We are 52 days into 2016. How are you doing?  Is your life balanced?  Are your spiritual, emotion and physical rhythms in order? Or is your pace a bit distracted by life’s demands (and hand-held technology)?  We tend to excuse away our pace and live the same patterns year after year. I am finding that progress for me comes from intentional decisions. In trying to practice a better pace this year, I made a significant change in my work routine. I realized the lack of controlled balance I was achieving when several close friends thought it would be impossible for me to accomplish my new schedule. Sure, I was getting a lot done, but too often, not with the restful heart that God desires for me. I, like you, am 52 days into to a new year and seeking to live a life with soul rest (as John Ortberg calls it in his book, Soul Keeping).

Another source of my thoughts on rest comes from the book Addicted to Busy, by Brady Boyd. I found the book in a discount store, but it is worth far more than the price I paid. It examines the struggle we all have for a life of rest, and does it meaningfully. A quote from Wayne Muller’s book, Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in our busy lives, shares our plight.

This one little conversation, this one extra phone call, this one quick meeting, what can it cost? But it does cost, it drains yet another drop of our life. Then, at the end of days, weeks, months, years, we collapse; we burn out, and cannot see where it happened. It happened in a thousand unconscious events, tasks, and responsibilities that seemed easy and harmless on the surface but that each, one after the other, used a small portion of our precious life.

Cell phones are only a symptom of our unwillingness to slow, listen and enjoy the rest available to all Christ-followers. One article may not change your pace, but I trust that it will cause reflection about how we too easily use up portions of our precious life on the immediate, while missing the joy and rest available in God’s design. It is obvious to me that it was never God’s intention for us to run our life race without resting. But to change, we have to be intentional!

What needs changing for you?

Not long after the sun dawned on Monday, the day took on a very solemn tone.  As my wife greeted me with a good morning kiss, she shared some tragic news received via text shortly after 1:00am.  A young couple were out celebrating Valentine’s Day and were hit head-on by another car.  The husband died instantly and the wife was in critical condition.  The young man was the best friend of someone very near and dear to us.  He was to be his best man.

My heart sank, and silent prayers were offered.  The news came soon that the wife had fallen into the arms of Jesus.  This world’s great loss was heaven’s great gain.  I navigated the remainder of the day with an intensely heavy heart.  This was “wrong” on so many levels.  This is not how things are supposed to be.  Yet the Bible says this is exactly what we should expect.  Our world is not how God created or intended it to be.  Original sin carried a curse, and death in this life is assured (unless Christ comes back first).  It should war against our souls.  It should seem desperately wrong to the true follower of Jesus.  It grieves God, and God’s Spirit within us echoes that grief.

I stepped out the door of my house a little before 8:00am the next morning.  It took only a few steps to be overwhelmed with profoundly contrasting sensory experiences.  As my eyes measured my steps, I could clearly see snow on the ground.  Yet as my cheeks hit the temperate air, something seemed amiss.  As I took a deep breath through my nose, my senses were at full-on war.  I typically pause in such moments.  They are the kind where your eyes announce sour, but your palate experiences sweet.  Or when you expect a bite to be sweet and are shocked by savory.  Something doesn’t compute … and it didn’t that morning.  Every bit of my visual cues and calendar knowledge declared winter, but the cool-ish air and distinct scent shouted spring.  I love moments when two polar opposites or multiple warring senses create an unavoidable and uncomfortable tension.

And then I heard the birds.

I stood beside my car for a minute to watch, breathe and listen.  The sweet sound of the birds seemed to elevate above my other senses, and I found myself lost in their song.  As I buckled in and started off, I began connecting the experience back to the heaviness of my yesterday.  Although it was not of the same intensity or consequence, there was also something “wrong” on Tuesday morning — birds were singing and there was snow on the ground.  How is it that there were birds singing?!

In what seemed like an instant, I associated their song with the bewildering beauty of gratitude in the midst of suffering. The conditions were harsh, yet they went on singing.  It was the natural world declaring the absolute truths of “give thanks in all circumstances” (I Thess. 5:18) and “count it all joy” (James 1:2).  Thanks in the circumstances and joy in the trials of various kinds … not because of them.

I am more often a supporter of the bird who attempts to sing in the midst of their circumstances and trials.  I have not experienced deep loss as often as have others in my life.  It is desperately hard but infinitely easier to be the bird’s friend, than to be the bird.  Father, continue to make me worthy of that sacred opportunity and also make me able to sing when circumstances and trials of various kinds befall my life.  I pray this for those whose lives have been turned upside down by the tragedy of this young couple’s death.  And I also pray that we don’t miss this:

The singing makes people stop (as I did Tuesday morning) and listen.  The song is a powerful testimony of God’s strength and love in carrying us through the circumstances and trials that bring us to our knees.

Sing as a bird in winter.  Sing to the Creator, the Great Healer.

There are two perilous truths which I have both observed and experienced in my life.  I have come to know and name them as “bookend” truths.  They are defining and confining truths which hold so much of our lives in an unnecessary tension.  Namely, that we take too much credit and too much responsibility for the outcomes in our lives.  We linger with the consequences of our actions — both good and bad — at great risk of the perils of swelling pride and debilitating guilt.

We set out to do what’s right and accomplish it … only to have someone behave as all broken and fallen people do, and make a mess of every one of our good intentions and actions.  We take hold of the mess as if it was of our own making.  We crouch low in an attempt to wedge ourselves under it and lift with our legs to stand upright and carry it the second mile.  We dissect the mess to determine its root cause and roll up our sleeves to do the work of putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.  We create, or add to, our pile of guilt and shame.  We wrestle with the resolve to do “better” next time.

Then, at other times, we set out to do what’s right and accomplish it … and then possess the tangibles of our accomplishment.  We take hold of the treasure as if it was of our own making.  It boosts our confidence.  It’s the shot in the arm we needed.  We accept the accolades (if given) and find a proper place to store up or display any reward.  We rationalize the success as an outcome of our own choice, logic, skills or strength.  We dissect it, and learn from what we’ve done.  We author, expand or validate a formula for success.  We commit it to memory.  We are enthusiastic about sharing it with others.

But here’s the absolute truth about our “Humpty Dumpty’s” and “pots of gold.”  We aren’t the authors of, or responsible for, the outcomes in our lives; God is.  Even when we fully submit and set out to move a mountain in His power, it is His choice whether the mountain is moved that day, how far, and whether anyone notices.  And when the mountain moves, it was God who did it and owns the mess or treasure from its moving.

We succeed because of what He does in and through us.  We fail because of our sin nature and its curse.  We suffer so that His glory can be on full display in our lives.  He has a plan for us, and it is for our good and the good of His kingdom (Jer. 29:11).  He created us in His image, knit us together in our mother’s womb, and wants us at work doing the good He prepared in advance for us to do (Gen. 1:27, Ps. 139:13, Eph. 2:10).  Yet there is such an overwhelming portion of our lives where we feel and act as though we control our own destiny.  We train, we resolve, we try in our own power (many times not noticing), and then are crushed under the weight of our own failures or those of others.  We are quick and harsh at being both judge and jury, while assessing the most severe penalties on ourselves.  We do not forgive ourselves easily (if ever).  We are quicker to give grace than accept it from God.

Think on these things the next time you are tempted to take credit or accept blame.  He gives us the great gift of participating in the work of His kingdom … the great gift of participating.  We were designed to care for His creation, not carry it.  We were designed to participate, not possess.  Cast all your cares.  Give back from the first fruits of every gain.   Live with the freedom He offers in serving Him, and then leave and ascribe the results to Him.  Be lavish in your praise of Him when the outcome is blessed.  Be quick to confess, repent and fully embrace the scandalous forgiveness and grace He offers when sin wins the day.

In contrast to the perilous truths I began with, there are two absolute and liberating “bookend” truths, which hold our lives in right and proper tension.

It is ours
to simply do,
and His
to do with and through.

Have you ever been reading something that you have read before (maybe even many times), and something hits you that you have never noticed before?  I had just such an experience this past week.  I love the study of the 12 apostles; I find them and their stories quite fascinating.  As I noticed that our daily Bible reading was approaching the end of the book of Matthew, I got to thinking about the author and apostle … and tax collector.

It is interesting how our minds work and the Spirit leads.  Timed perfectly with the ending of our time in Matthew, was the recurring task of paying our property taxes.  As I paid them, I suppose I did a bit of grumbling.   Probably not unlike the people who used to pay Matthew … the tax collector.  It made me ponder Matthew’s profession a bit further.  Would you want that job??  Matthew was the type of tax collector that sat in a tax office and collected the money.  He was the most hated of the tax men and his position offered the greatest possibility of intimidation and theft!  And yet, one day, as Jesus walked by …

 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
Matthew 9:9

In reading further, I came upon words I’ve read countless times before, but saw something in them which I had never “seen” before … ever.

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Matthew 10:2-4

Philip … Bartholomew … Thomas … Matthew the tax collector!!

“… the tax collector” – these are Matthew’s own words.

Matthew reminds us who he was.  He describes himself as others would (maybe how he saw himself) … a hated, greedy, low-down tax collector.  Matthew was considered a traitor to his own people, the Jews.  His only friends were other tax collectors (see Matthew 9:10).  I am sure people assumed he was a crook, a thief, and so Matthew clearly writes that in Scripture for the world to read.  If it was me, I would just be “Matthew.” I would add no other designation; I would want people to forget who I had been. But not Matthew.

If you had to designate a “theme” or bent to the book of Matthew it would be forgiveness.  Are you seeing what hit me?  Matthew was so humbled by being asked by Jesus to follow Him, by becoming one of the twelve chosen, by being forgiven, that he had to remind us where he had come from.

I don’t know about you, but Mike and I are so busy.  The days blur, as do the weeks.  I neglect to praise the Lord.  I miss the good things of the day because I am so tired at night.  Matthew wrote a perennial reminder of where he had come from and how much he had been forgiven. Today, let’s take a moment and humble ourselves to our awesome Lord, then thank Him for the forgiveness that was a pure gift to us … so undeserving.

Recently, I have been in conversations which I know were effected by negative inner emotions. Years ago in another century (doesn’t that make me sound old), I heard a statistic that, although dated, is probably still accurate. The statistic was, seventy percent of all communication is self-talk, and seventy-seven percent of self-talk is negative. Wow! Think about the ramifications of that statistic. If that is even close to true, then all of us have a major battle that ensues daily… between our ears. I believe it to be a fairly safe assumption on my part that you (like me) are often pre-occupied internally and, therefore, distracted externally. Those negative inner conversations inevitably play a role in our confidence, effectiveness and joy.

Have you ever been invaded by thoughts like:

• I’ll never get to retire.
• He’ll never change.
• I’m a failure.
• My child is hopeless.
• Why would God let this happen?

Those are just a few of the mind benders that cloud our daily outlook. These thoughts are made more difficult to bear when it seems that all that surrounds us is negative. And make no mistake about it, there is a lot that goes on around us that is less than positive! So our question must be, how can we reduce our ill-advised self-talk, and respond positively in a world which tends to wear us out? Scripture tells us, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7) Today, you and I are living realities of what we are thinking.

In her excellent book, Power Thoughts, Joyce Meyer gives us great counsel.

Indeed, very few people realize that we have the ability to choose our thoughts and decide what we want to think; most of us passively meditate on whatever comes into our minds without ever realizing our enemy, Satan, uses our minds extensively to control us and keep us from fulfilling God’s destiny for our lives. Each person regenerated through receiving Jesus Christ as their Savior receives a new spirit and a new heart from God, but does not receive a new mind—the mind must be renewed. The intent of one’s heart may be pure and yet the mind still confused. The Bible declares emphatically that we must be transformed by the entire renewal of mind and attitude (see Romans 12:2). This is accomplished by a complete, diligent and thorough study of God’s Word.

If you are a Christ-follower, can you trust that God will always and forever do what is best in your life? Can you accept that His love is perfect?  That He will always respond to you out of that love? I believe you would answer “Yes” to those questions, yet we still battle with the seventy-seven percent negative self-talk. There are many ways I could encourage you in the battle, but let me just challenge you with one thought. It seems to me that we have a strong, but misplaced desire to trust our Father. Our emphasis is pre-occupied with ourselves and managing trust without experiencing it. You and I can say we are trusting the Father, but releasing our control and depending on Him to respond in love – now that is real trust. The question is will we release control?

When you and I release control and experience the joy of trusting Him, our thoughts can move from self doubt to real life-changing faith. Could our seventy-seven percent negative self- talk turn positive? Could our inner conversations sound like this?

• Life is hard, but He will lead me to retirement.
• I feel like a failure sometimes, but God will still guide me.
• My child is wandering, but my Lord is seeking Him.
• I don’t know why this happened, but I trust my Father.

Look at everything through the lens of His love, stop being pre-occupied with all that could be wrong, and simply trust the One who will always and forever do the best for you. Rid yourself of the seventy-seven percent. Would you stop right now, and confess the negative inner conversations, and release your issues to the Father? You can trust Him!

I am in the process of reading a new book. It is challenging me about … me! Life on earth is finite, and I (like you) want to live it to the max. In light of my desire, I have always been fascinated by the words of Soren Kierkegaard, “Now, with God’s help, I shall become myself.” Another insightful and thoughtful comment can be found in John Ortberg’s wonderful book, “The Life You’ve Always Wanted.” He states that, “I am called to be the person God had in mind when he originally designed me.” Those statements are thought-provoking, but are they also true? Do you believe that Creator is really concerned about your unique design, and ultimate purpose? What would God’s design for you and me look like anyway?

Far from robotic followers, our Father has built us to be unique and diverse. If you are in Christ, I believe there is a you that God wants you to be. I’m not sure how much He cares about the distinctions of bearded or clean-shaven, short or tall, green or blue-eyed, Caucasian or Asian. But He definitely cares about the role He wants us to play for His kingdom. And, therefore, we are challenged to surrender our wills to His and learn to live in His freedom. I can say with confidence that He wants us to be Spirit-filled, others-centered, and willing to live outside our comfort zone for His purpose. But how do we begin to approach what He has in mind for us? Let’s take two verses as a starting point.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13 (NIV)

It is important to understand that these verses are speaking about individuals who have accepted the gift of salvation through faith. You have turned from darkness to light and now are secure in Christ. Note that we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” An evidence of your relationship with Christ is the good works that follow. Becoming the you of God’s design will certainly include fruit from your relationship. Imperfect, but forgiven, we have a role to play as ambassadors of Christ. God’s design for you was settled long before there was a you. He knows each of us intimately and has a specific and unique plan for us to fulfill. Can you believe with me that the plan is His, and our submitted lives and resulting good works honor Him?

As I “become myself”, there will be a sense that God is working in me for His good purpose. And the energy to accomplish this purpose will come only from Him. Many true followers get caught up in trying to “act according to his good purpose,” without growing in their faith. Seek and submit to Him daily, and rest in the assurance that He will work in and through you. And when our Father is working in our lives, there is energy and His results.

In Christ, you and I are unique, gifted, and built for His mission. If you really believe that you are called to be the person God had in mind when He originally designed you, then you must believe that God is on your side in directing you to good works, and His good purpose. As you move through 2016, be excited that the true and living God has some work for you to do. Eternal work!

I am challenged about me, and you are, no doubt, wanting to be the best you. Our real quest, however, should be accepting His design and being who He wants us to be. Embrace it!

My two sons really liked the sermon and guest speaker at our church yesterday morning.  They told me as much as we began our ride home.  I sensed something a bit deeper than just a “liking” as they spoke, so I chose to do a little exploring with a responsive question.  “What was your takeaway?” I asked.

The guest speaker had suggested one at the end of his sermon and I was curious if his specific challenge resonated with the boys or whether there was some other (more personal) place or thing in their life which was tweaked.  My eldest son spoke first and did a really good job speaking the truths of the morning in his own life language.  My youngest was quick to add that he agreed with his brother.   It was obvious that both boys paid close attention and connected with what was shared.  I smiled (on the inside and the outside) and affirmed their words and thoughts, but also added, “That wasn’t really what I was asking.”

Poor kids.  They didn’t protest the evening before when I announced we were going to early service.  They woke themselves, showered, made their beds, ate breakfast and were completely ready to go exactly when I asked them to be.  They ushered, sat quietly, sang sincerely and listened intently.  Then they were thoughtful and well-spoken in response to their dad’s question … and yet, that wasn’t enough! 🙂

My boys were gracious as I clarified my question.  A “takeaway” was not a summary of their understanding of what was taught, but rather a thing(s) they were moved to do more deeply or differently in response to what was taught.  Understanding is an essential part of a takeaway, but it is wholly incomplete without intentional action.  It was a great conversation (that I am sure the boys were glad to be saved from when we arrived at home) that I recalled while taking a walk later that morning.

As I walked, I began to consider how many people engage truth in that manner (seeking a takeaway).  How do I engage it?  We listen to teachers and preachers, read books and study the Bible, but do we do those things passively or actively?  Are we simply satisfied with learning something or does what we learn motivate us to action?  After reading Exodus 27-28 and Matthew 21 today, will you finish satisfied in knowing that you completed your task for the day?  Will you move on to your next task contented with a nugget of knowledge or wisdom you gleaned while reading?  Has reading the Bible followed that pattern in your life lately?

Eugene Peterson wrote a book several years ago motivated by the belief that the way we read the Bible is more important than the fact that we read it.  I love the book’s title … Eat This Book.  I love the imagery and association with “consuming” scripture.  Think about the activity of “chewing” scripture — repeatedly considering it, tearing into it, wrestling with it, and breaking it down to its most basic thoughts and truths.  Then think of “swallowing” it — the entire digestive process, breaking it down even further, allowing its life-giving and sustaining nutrients to absorb into your blood stream and be the fuel that creates the energy you need to walk worthy of your calling.

I believe we’d do well to ask the “takeaway” question each time we listen, read or study.  Don’t be satisfied with knowing about God.  Know Him … and then know Him more.  Don’t stop at believing in Jesus.  Follow Him … and then keep picking up your cross daily to follow Him further.  What is your takeaway in reading today?