Conflicted... Compelled

I am pretty confident that this path of being a Christ-follower is not intended to be conflicting. I am relatively confident that I am not intended to be in conflict. However, I venture through Paul's thoughts in Philippians 3.17... There is a path of my life that leads directly to the throne of my life and I deeply long for the path of my life to lead others to only one Person at the end of the path -- Christ. I genuinely long for people to find a pattern/path through me that points only toward Him. I genuinely want Christ to be found at the end of the trail of my time, possessions, passions, resources, energy.... at the end of that trail is Christ alone. Then, Paul writes in 18-19 that there are a group of people in the heart of the church at Philippi who are about themselves... their purposes... their ways.... They are 'enemies of the cross." Through their legalism and/or their filling of their own desires for their own glory, they hang around the periphery of worship and miss the point. Not only are they distracted... they are a massive distraction from this incredible grace message of Christ.

Instead of celebrating the fleeting glory of my own life... Instead of inviting people to follow me to the throne of my distractions... Instead of settling for something small, temporary, and lacking in worth, I long to say, I have been rescued. I am in Christ. He is in me. No rival throne survives. I have been rescued to be a rescuer. Maybe the conflict of my life is to maintain a level of vigilance concerning rival thrones. I will, at times, attempt to build this small throne...... I will, at times, deviate off the path of consummate passion..... I will be distracted..... and I don't want to be or do any of those things. Rival thrones - the place of conflict. I don't want to be conflicted!

I want to live with laser-like focus on One King, one hope, one passion for one glory. I want to live with that level of focus because satifaction is found there. I want to live with that level of focus because peace is found there. I want to live at that level of focus because purpose is found there. I want to live at that level of focus because this abounding life that Christ describes is found there. I want to live at that level of focus because it matters.... because life counts and Life is Christ.

So, I'm asking God to elevate my vigilance. I am asking Him to walk to all thrones in my life.... is He alone elevated? If not, I really want Him to partner with me and tear down all thrones that point toward me OR distract me from Him. I want Christ. Really! I want Christ. I think the secret of one pure and holy passion is saying, "Christ, you are more than enough and I want more than enough of You!" Susan was reading a quote from Andrew Murray. He wrote, "the great lack of our Christianity today is..... (I'm expecting the incredibly profound leap from the pages of the book she was reading!!), 'we do not know God!' " I want to know God. I want us, together at EBC, to know God... to share intimacy with Him. Could it really be that simple?

I'm thinking that its pretty intense to be a Christ follower. I am thinking its incredibly freeing to be a Christ follower. I really think God is inviting us to determine that we will follow.... that we will remove distractions.... that we will be a group of people who really do exist to ignite and inspire passion for Jesus Christ. That will happen because our passion is crystal clear... no rival thrones.... the King of all Glory sits on the throne of our lives. It matters.

Add to the commentary by clicking on comments below. I love pursuing God together! Enjoy Life.

Mark