Found......

Thoughts from the weekend of May 14 at Emmanuel (Defining Moments)

Honestly, I really don't have anything to offer God except myself.... my life.... my passions... my dreams. When I was a kid I was lost.... lost in the woods... lost, helpless, scared, struggling, crying, and with nothing to offer. Yeah, I ventured into the woods at dusk and, yeah, I did a really good job of getting completely lost! Then, up steps a heroic man..... a booming bass voice..... a beaming flashlight. My dad carved his way through the woods with a flashlight and a resounding call of my name and I had the thrill of responding to his voice in the only way that made sense. I climbed into his arms.... as an act of faith. I realized that I had no other hope and nothing to bring to the table. I was LOST and my dad found me. I was in a hopeless, helpless position and I was FOUND. I asked my dad to carry me home.

I think I would have been a stupid man to consider that I had anything to offer at that moment. The only offering I had to give was me... to dad.... to carry me... home!

Paul said, in Philippians 3.10, I want to be 'found IN HIM'.... nothing about me or about what I do 'right' that will satisfy God. I want, as an act of faith, to be found in Christ and to trust Him to be my completion. This whole overriding passion to know Christ and to live abandoned to His glory assumes that I know that it's all about Him. Let's face it, most followers of Christ trust in Him alot..... many just don't trust in Him alone. We have the audacity to think that it's Christ +..... Christ + some form of baptism... Christ + some version.... Christ + some spiritual gift... Christ + some form of devotion. When we embrace Christ and are embraced by Him, we are complete. If you are reading this and you have embraced Christ, you are complete..... right now.... you are complete! Yeah!

Do we really dare to question the crowning work of God? Do we really think heaven needs help in saving us? We are lost in the woods apart from Christ. There is nothing I can do. To suggest I can do something diminishes the amazing, grace-filled, all encompassing work of Christ. I have been saved by grace, with nothing to boast about except the cross of Jesus Christ.

Rick's story that was shared this weekend personified the above words. Rick's story was amazing at so many levels.... the obvious - that he places the massive accomplishments he has achieved beneath the banner of the cross of Christ..... that the passion he shared was given at a retirement ceremony at Eglin AFB is even more profound... this wasn't a church talk... this was a defining moment. Rick defined his life as given over solely to the glory of God. I thank my God for a friend like him. He is a partner in this astounding gospel.... this good, great news! His boast is in the cross of Christ and the world dies to him and he dies to the world (Gal 6.14). I love Rick's closing quote..."he is not fool, to give what He cannot keep for that which he will never lose" (Elliot).

We would be foolish to build our lives on anything other than the eternal cross of Christ. Honestly, I want to be found in Him... I do not want to even consider a righteousness of my own.... I want to cast ALL my faith upon Him..... I long to be known for knowing Christ. All the rest is skubala!

What a weekend...... feel free to add to the commentary by clicking on comments below. I love this place... I love our God!

Mark



To offer anything