Be....

Is it possible that we confuse a life of 'doing' with a life of 'being'? I am pretty convinced that our capacity to live out the life of a Christ-follower is predicated upon our love for Christ. Yeah, I am know that the preceding sentence is pretty simple and beautifully lacking in profundity. But, it's something that I struggle with constantly. Maybe it's my sense of extreme personal responsibility or just how I am wired, but I really have this ambition to "DO" more and more. In all my doing, I find myself empty, frustrated, and generally just dropping the ball as a follower. My intentions... well, they are right on. I'm just missing the follow through. Actually, I don't have the capacity for follow through apart from Christ.


Jesus looked at a very religious man and asked Him what it takes to live as if eternity hangs in the balance. (Lk 10) The man answered, Love God and love others. Jesus responds, even today, okay do that and you will live. Actually do that, and you will live an abounding life. I want to live an abounding life (Jn 10.10). I have found something pretty interesting about God. When I am running after Him. When I am enjoying Him and seeking Him and loving Him and getting to know Him. When my life is tracking toward Him, I rarely concern myself with the 'doing'. Because, when I am running after the character of God, it's a weighty pursuit. I am actually pursuing His glory (glory = weight) and the 'weight' of God in my life simply falls in this earth. I end up 'doing' what a Christ-follower would do. But, I live it out with His power and His passion and His life and His joy and His name and His fame being the sole desire of my heart. Isn't that what Jesus meant when He said, 'do this and you will live?' Didn't He simply ask us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to enjoy the love spilling out toward our neighbor. I love the idea of 'spill out'... it's the overflow! It's the Christ-life spilling on others and that is life, hope, and majesty.


I am recognizing, more and more everyday, that I just don't have the capacity to 'do this and live' unless I am finding a depth of love for and a passion for the pursuit of knowledge of Jesus Christ. God really is looking for a people who are marinating in His Word, sinking the roots of His character into their minds and their hearts. As a result, deeply impassioned expressions are flowing from our lives toward Him. Those expressions find their natural outworking in caring about the needs of those around us. The character of Christ will find its expression in the things we do. It's far easier to sing a song, than touch the broken. It's alot less taxing to go to church than to take 'church' to the world. But, giving our life away for the Kingdom of God is why we are on this planet. Seeing others with eyes of compassion are a result of seeing Jesus for who He is. His eyes of intense compassion open the eyes of our heart.


This is a journey of love... abounding toward us... exploding in us... and living through us. Love you God with all that you have, are, and can be. Allow the outworking of that love to spill the wonder of our God all over this earth. God will be pleased and your life will abound. (Heb 13.16)


Feel free to comment.


For the Glory,
Mark