Showing posts with label commitment. Show all posts
Prison Break: Commitment
Wednesday
Lives full of Commitment and yet we are not really committed to anything. Sometimes life becomes the list of responsibilities and has no clear purpose. Do you ever find yourself living in the line between a life that serves God and a life that longs to be accepted by everyone around you?
I do. It is hard to stick to the identity I want. I want to be a follower of Christ and yet I have all this stuff I hold onto.
Luke 9: 57-62 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (emphasis mine)
How do we do it? How do we make the commitment? How do we stop hitting the easy button and fall back on our old patterns? How do I make the first thing on my mind the Kingdom of God?
Today, when I ask myself who I am, I am going to answer and say a Christian.
Today, when I ask myself what I am going to do, I am going to answer Serve God.
Today, when I ask myself how am I going to live, I am going to say Following Christ.
and
Tomorrow, when I ask myself who I am, I am going to answer and say a Christian.
Tomorrow, when I ask myself what I am going to do, I am going to answer Serve God.
Tomorrow, when I ask myself how am I going to live, I am going to say Following Christ.
Hopefully with a little accountability from the Body and lots of prayer, my patterns with change and I will stop living in the in between and I will choose to commit to who I truly am in Christ.
Backyard: Our Community
Thursday
Matthew 28:18-20 (msg) Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."
Who, Me? Is he talking to me? Make disciples, teach, baptise. That isn't my job.
There was a long period in my faith where I felt incapable of leading people. I felt too imperfect and not smart enough to answer the questions people had about Salvation. My internal dialog was great at reminding me that I am just a wife, just a mother. Mission field; ministry, I don't think so. I am not sure what had given me the idea that I wasn't capable of sharing God's love with others. Maybe society, maybe my own lack of self-confidence or I was just scared to get it wrong.
Without the dedication of a few wonderful people I would never have stepped out and shared my testimony with others. (Fellowship) My confidence in sharing the gospel gets stronger and stronger the more I read and learn His Word. (Study) I have a "new" life. I don't just have a better life because of my Salvation. Living in Christ has given me an entirely new life. My testimony, my past baggage are proof of how great our God is. My life has been transformed.
My ministry is in being a wife and mother. (Worship) I may not be flying to a foreign country any time soon but my commitment to my Savior is just as important to the people in my everyday as it is to the people in Africa. I have learned to be careful in judging what God can do through people when their hearts are open. Sometimes when I don't feel so friendly and want to keep to myself, I try and remember that Christ himself asked me to go out in His name and share His grace. What right do I have to keep all of God's blessings to myself? Regardless if I think they deserve it, God thinks they too are worth the sacrifice that He made.
Stepping Out (Family Challenge)
I think our children could probably teach us a thing or two about unconditional acceptance. Have you ever noticed how children that just meet are instantly friends, capable of sharing everything. With no thought to how they will carry on a conversation and how they instantly find things they have in common.
This week lets get messy with a little craft.
Get a couple different colors of washable (water based) paint.
Craft paper (long enough to fit your foot on)
Paint brushes (sponge will work to)
Okay, clear a space on the kitchen floor. If you bought the right kind of paint you should have nothing to worry about, but keep a few paper towels handy. Maybe a bowl of water to rinse feet off in.
Pick who will go first. One at a time, each of you make a commitment to step out into your communities (school, work, sports teams, etc) and make a difference for Christ. Talk to your kids about being called to share what Christ has done for them. Help the younger ones paint the bottom of their feet and place them on the paper. Maybe let them paint the bottom of your feet.
When you are standing in your kitchen, feet covered in paint remember to thank God for the blessings He has given you.