Jesus Freaks

I have this new question that I’ve been throwing around in my head for the last few weeks. It’s funny how God works, because I was thinking about this issue but I hadn’t really been discussing it with a lot of people, when a friend, without even knowing, brought up the topic a few days later and then the following morning at church I heard a message that was not on this issue but the pastor briefly mentioned his thoughts on it. I was sure at this point that God wanted me to really dig into this topic and figure out what I believed. So my big question is; how sold out are we called to be?

We are told to “acknowledge Him in all things,” but it’s hard to say if anyone really understands what that means. Some take it to mean that we give thanks in ever small way as often as possible. If this was our interpretation, that would mean we thank Him for that green light that we got on the way home or that discount at the grocery store. Ok, is that really such a bad thing? When I am so focused on praising God for all the good, no matter how small, He is doing in my life it is nearly impossible to be negative. That sounds like a pretty good way to live to me. But what about the ones who take this thankfulness to the extreme, is that ok too? These are the ones who turn others off to church and Christ because they seem crazy and over the top. Is that a good way to show Christ to non-believers? Actually, they aren’t showing Christ at all, because He wasn’t overbearing, instead he sat and ate with the sinners.

Now, like many other believers, I’m confused even more. I don’t think there are many of us who live like we are called to live but I’m not sure where to draw that line either. We are called to be set apart, but, at the same time, we are told to live in this world. We can’t be so radical if we are going to lead others to Christ, but they have to see Him in our lives at all times. So how are we to live? What is that middle ground? These are questions that there aren’t really answers for because it is so subjective. You’re reaction to Christ’s call is different than mine. Every person has to determine in their own lives what it means to “acknowledge Him in all things.” For some, it means listening to only Christian music, while others wear Christ on their clothes, and then there are those who sell everything they have and move to Africa to win as many as possible.

No one can ultimately say what is the right path or the wrong one, the one thing I can say is that we are called to love God and others. When my radical devotion is turning others away from God and His love, then I need to take a step back and really look at who I am glorifying. All our actions, whether great or small, should glorify God alone. If, in every word and deed, God is being lifted high, then I am living the calling and people’s opinions no longer matter.

Making Decisions

This whole issue began after I was talking to my friend the other day about all the decisions in our lives and how much each one truly affects our lives. Well last night, as I was lying in bed having no luck trying to fall asleep, I had this awesome revelation. I was thinking about decisions and how if you make one bad one does that screw up God's entire plan for our life…

I mean, if I made one decision that wasn't exactly what God had in mind for my life, does that mean that I'll never get back on the right path? I don't really believe that's how God works, but then I don't know how I'm suppose to make these hard decisions. I know each choice brings us closer to or farther from God's ultimate goal for our lives, but I'm just wondering if maybe there are detours. Can I get to the original destination just with a few cutoffs and side roads? I believe God knows all our decisions before we make them, and the best illustration of this is in a book I read by C.S. Lewis. In his book, he describes how God views our lives and shows how life is like a parade, we are on the ground watching each float one at a time (aka the present) but God is up above it all, seeing what has already passed and what is to come all at the same time (aka past, present, and future). I love this description because it doesn't show God causing things to happen because we do all have decisions to make, it illustrates how He simply knows the decisions that we will make and what the outcomes will be for each one before we make them. So since He knows what I'm going to do, maybe He creates other opportunities for me to get to my destination, just not in the original design.

I can't even count how many times I have sat agonizing over a decision and never really believing I have an answer from God. It helps, in these times, to know that since I am truly searching for an answer from Him no matter what choice I make He will ultimately bless my life; whether through that good decision or another opportunity if it was the wrong one because I sought Him through it all. I know this makes no sense but in order to make decisions in my life, I'd like to think that each one isn't going to change the entire course of my life because that's way too much pressure! Scripture even shows us that no matter what decision we make as long as we are seeking God He's going to bless our lives. A verse that really seems to back up my theory is found in Proverbs 16:3, it says "Committ to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed."

For someone who is still trying to figure out what life has in store for them, it is so encouraging knowing that my life is going to be a success as long as I'm continually looking to Him!

David's Year Away

I heard one of the coolest messages the other day, presenting an aspect of an old bible story I’d never heard. The speaker began the lesson talking about how David was one of the MVPs of the old testament but that he had his issues just like the rest of us; he was an adulterer and a murderer but he was the man after God’s own heart because he was also a humble man who knew who held the keys to his eternity.

Well of course, if you’ve been in church for more than a few years, you’ve heard this story before, but the part of it I don’t remember or never paid attention to, was the fact that David didn’t repent immediately. I guess before I thought that he had just messed up and realized it and then corrected it, but that’s not what happened at all, in fact he doesn’t confess his sin until after the baby is born. It takes 9 months for a baby to be born, so when you do the math you realize that it is almost a year in this sinful state! He lived in this state of distance from God for an entire year which blows me away! How a man so committed to God can get to a point of distance for that long is almost unreal. It was not until his friend Nathan brought it to his attention that he got right with God. I’m sure he knew that he had sinned but he was so caught up in these sins that he couldn’t hear God’s prodding.

Nathan, being the good friend he was, showed David the error of his ways and David then made things right again. Nathan was a true friend because calling someone out on something is one of the hardest things to do; you never know how they’ll react and it could mean losing that friendship. Nathan took that chance anyways because he knew it was what was best for David. But the coolest thing about this realization was that David came back from this distant state and was still referred to as a man after God’s own heart! It’s encouraging to know that no matter what I get myself into, or for how long I stay in that state of turmoil, God will always accept me back and love me just as before and in an even more intimate way because I realize more fully the depth of His love. It reminds me of a Barlow Girl song called Harder Than The First Time. Here are some of the lyrics that show how amazing it is to grow in our relationship with the Lord…

“Was I so blind; how did I not see you? Yet in all this time you never left my side, So for all my life, I will live to know you, So here I am; I’ll take your hand I didn’t see you, but God I want toYou’ve come alive, and I think I’ve fallen harder than the first time”