Stuff Christians Like has an excellent post today. It mirrors exactly what I have been thinking. I considered putting it here word-for-word, but decided to expound on my own thoughts.
I have been worried a lot lately as I see the church struggle with what I believe is an almost works-based salvation. We are constantly being told we need to "go" and "do". We must go... somewhere... and do... something for God or we are fat, lazy Christians. Get off your butt, people!
But I believe we have it exactly backwards and it hurts my heart everytime I see a fellow Christian exhorting us to "go", "do". What we need are Christians fully committed to Christ, to making Him Lord, to submitting to Him, to trusting Him, to listening to His voice, to worshipping Him, to becoming the person He wants us to be.
He doesn't NEED us to go and do anything. He's GOD! But rather, He invites to help, like a father invites his child to help wash the car. It makes the car messier and it takes longer to get the job done, but in the process, dad is teaching, molding, bonding, modeling, and loving his child. Someday, the child gets better at washing cars, or maybe not, but the relationship and the memories of washing the car with dad are priceless.
Does that mean we aren't supposed to serve? Of course we will oftentimes find ourselves serving God in one way or another, but it will be because He called us and invited us to join Him. He knows exactly what needs to be done and who is the best person to do it. I trust Him to speak to the person He wants to serve, and I trust Him whether that person is me or if He is telling me to wait before jumping in.
Feeling burnt out? I don't believe burn out is inevitable. But it certainly is unavoidable if we are "going" and "doing" without the call and direction of God. Jesus said, "My meat is to do the will of the Father." Pressing into God, hearing His voice, following His path, doing what He says, or just resting in His presense, that is the will of God. It is the only thing that will sustain and nourish our souls, not some big cause or work.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I think that one of the biggest problems is that when Christians do "go" or "do", they miss the boat on what God wants or they do it with the wrong motive or motivation. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was he said to love God and then love your neighbor - and that all the law and prophets hung on those 2 things. But those 2 things aren't often the motivation behind Christian's "doing". I think we need to be asking ourselves how to love God and love our neighbors more and let that be the motivation behind everything we do (even in fulfilling the great commandment). I am really being challenged on this right now. It started by reading the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. Ok enough with the book length comment. I am just sooooo right there with you on this.
Post a Comment