We've lost our sense of awe at the power of the cross. We no longer ponder what was done at the cross. We no longer cry at the thought of what Jesus did on the cross for us. The power of the cross has diminished. It has faded into the background. The Gospel is no longer our most potent medicine to cure the problems of the heart. The Gospel is like any other story to us. To some, the Gospel is dead.
The Gospel is not dead. It's living. It does not die. It is forever. Constant. Like a rock to grab onto in a storm. The Gospel should be transforming our lives. Instead, it sits on our book stand gathering dust. The Gospel, the Word of God, the passion of Christ in words, is no longer as intoxicating as the new movie, the new book, the relationship, the video game. We don't crave the Gospel like we crave our favorite food. We don't find the Gospel important because we spend so little time living it. The Gospel should be an all-consuming, transformation seen in a person's life. And we have lost that.
See the Gospel may seem small. It may seem like the Gospel is the prayer that "gets you into Heaven". The Gospel may seem to be the hell, fire, and brimstone sermon you heard and only by Jesus' death and resurrection can you be saved. The Gospel could be you realizing your need at home with family surrounding you. Your need for a Savior whom can offer eternal life
But the Gospel is so much more.
The Gospel is the way you treat that unbeliever. The Gospel is humbling yourself and allowing the other person to win. The Gospel is following your pastor and allowing him to lead even though you might not agree with every decision. The Gospel is giving God the glory each and every time you do something. The Gospel is needing no other affirmation for the things you are doing for ministry's sake, knowing that God sees you living the Gospel out in a practical way. The Gospel is being consistent and purposeful in the work you do everyday. The Gospel should be seen in everything. that. you. do. Christ-likeness should be radiating from your interactions with people, the choices you make, the way you carry yourself. The Gospel is an all consuming passion that Christians need to have.
And yet we don't.
It's that one decision we made that now means we are safe from hell. We continue on in our lives. Tweaking things here and there to make yourself look like a Christian but your heart looks no different before you received the Gospel. The Gospel should make you want to pursue God like a camel pursuing water in a desert. The Gospel should make you long for a relationship with Jesus that is unlike any other relationship you have ever had. The Gospel should transform you so that when people see you, they wonder what they need to do to attain the happiness that you radiate. And through you, you show them the Gospel and the relationship they can have with Christ.
The Gospel should be something that every Christian is striving for.
And yet we go on living.
As if the most powerful change that could ever happen- didn't.
So this is my challenge to you, as I have been challenged, pursue what a Gospel living life looks like. Look at Paul and the way that he lived the Gospel out in every day of his life. Look at how Jesus was the walking Gospel. Challenge yourself to become more like Jesus and by becoming more like Jesus, you become more like the Gospel. Because the Gospel is not a one and done deal. It's a passionate relationship that is wholly satisfying because you are seeped in Christ's love and living like Jesus did every day of His life.
Live the Gospel. Be the Gospel. Because when the Gospel is seen, other lives are transformed. When the Gospel is lived, people become insignificant and Christ is exalted. The Gospel is exalting Christ and that can only happen if Christians are living humbly so that the Gospel may be reflected through them.
Start living like the Gospel actually is truly the most important thing you can ever receive.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Thursday, June 19, 2014
I Am Not Better Than You
I am not better than you because I am a Christian. I am not better than you because I grew up in a Christian family. I am not better than you because I can do something that you can't. I am not better than you because I don't struggle with the same sin that you struggle with. I am not better than you.
My heart has been heavy with these thoughts. Jesus didn't save me so I could be more self-righteous. I am not better than you because I go to church on Sundays. The only thing that makes me better is Jesus' love. And it doesn't make me better than you. It makes me better than the person I was before I met Jesus. Jesus doesn't see people and compare them. He never did that with the woman at the well. He never did that with the Pharisees. He never did that to those who questioned who he was or what he taught. He loved the unlovable. He loved the broken. He loved the ones who asked for his love. He never once said no to a person that asked.
Church people are not any better than the visitor that walked in on that Sunday who dressed differently than us or who said something we wouldn't have. We are all humans who make mistakes every day and the only reason we have hope is because we trusted that Jesus' love and sacrifice could allow God to overlook our sins. God does not look down and see those who are loved and those who are not. He sees those he loves. Every county, every town, every city, every state, every nation, every continent. He sees the children with no parents who are seeking loving attention. He sees those who drown their sorrows in their drug of choice. He sees hurting people whom he has loved from the time they were created. You see, I am not better than you. I never will be. Comparing me to you is like comparing one broken jar to another. We are both helplessly inadequate when we are standing alone. The only thing that makes me better than who I used to be- is the love of Jesus in me.
You see, there are people who pretend that they are better than you. There are those who pretend their lives are all put together. There are those who pass judgment when judgment is not theirs to give out. But we are just as helpless as you. Our lives may look like they are put together, but we all have our secret demons. We all have our personal, private struggles that no one else even dreams we struggle with. We, all, at one point in time stay up late worrying about something. We all have moments when we wonder what is happening and why it is happening to us. But the only reason that I can see hope in a situation is because I know my God. My God took me as his own. My God promised to care for me. My God promised to do only what was best for me. Maybe not the best here on earth, but in eternity, the best will forever reign. My God promised to love someone he should have thrown away. My God loves like no one I have ever or will ever know. My God does. not. fail.
I am not better than you because of my accomplishments, my life, my beliefs. No. I am but a human. Jesus is the one that makes me who I am. Jesus gives me a view of the world in a way that I could never have on my own. So walk into our church and I promise not to judge you. I promise to love you because Jesus could love someone like me. Jesus promises to accept anyone that asks him to love. You don't have to become better before coming into church. You don't have to clean up your life or pretend your life is neat and tidy. No. Come as you are because Jesus sees the best in you because he loves you. And I promise to love you like Jesus because I am not better than you. I promise to love you because my God chose to love me. So you see, don't compare yourself to others. It will be a constant disappointment. Love yourself the way you are and constantly seek to become more like Jesus because through Jesus we have an undeniable love and light for those around us. Be happy in who you are because your identity is not in yourself but rather who you are seeped in Jesus' love. And Jesus' love is all you could ever ask for. I am not better than you. Jesus is better than us. Jesus is the one we should compare ourselves to. Love like Jesus.
~Sarah
My heart has been heavy with these thoughts. Jesus didn't save me so I could be more self-righteous. I am not better than you because I go to church on Sundays. The only thing that makes me better is Jesus' love. And it doesn't make me better than you. It makes me better than the person I was before I met Jesus. Jesus doesn't see people and compare them. He never did that with the woman at the well. He never did that with the Pharisees. He never did that to those who questioned who he was or what he taught. He loved the unlovable. He loved the broken. He loved the ones who asked for his love. He never once said no to a person that asked.
Church people are not any better than the visitor that walked in on that Sunday who dressed differently than us or who said something we wouldn't have. We are all humans who make mistakes every day and the only reason we have hope is because we trusted that Jesus' love and sacrifice could allow God to overlook our sins. God does not look down and see those who are loved and those who are not. He sees those he loves. Every county, every town, every city, every state, every nation, every continent. He sees the children with no parents who are seeking loving attention. He sees those who drown their sorrows in their drug of choice. He sees hurting people whom he has loved from the time they were created. You see, I am not better than you. I never will be. Comparing me to you is like comparing one broken jar to another. We are both helplessly inadequate when we are standing alone. The only thing that makes me better than who I used to be- is the love of Jesus in me.
You see, there are people who pretend that they are better than you. There are those who pretend their lives are all put together. There are those who pass judgment when judgment is not theirs to give out. But we are just as helpless as you. Our lives may look like they are put together, but we all have our secret demons. We all have our personal, private struggles that no one else even dreams we struggle with. We, all, at one point in time stay up late worrying about something. We all have moments when we wonder what is happening and why it is happening to us. But the only reason that I can see hope in a situation is because I know my God. My God took me as his own. My God promised to care for me. My God promised to do only what was best for me. Maybe not the best here on earth, but in eternity, the best will forever reign. My God promised to love someone he should have thrown away. My God loves like no one I have ever or will ever know. My God does. not. fail.
I am not better than you because of my accomplishments, my life, my beliefs. No. I am but a human. Jesus is the one that makes me who I am. Jesus gives me a view of the world in a way that I could never have on my own. So walk into our church and I promise not to judge you. I promise to love you because Jesus could love someone like me. Jesus promises to accept anyone that asks him to love. You don't have to become better before coming into church. You don't have to clean up your life or pretend your life is neat and tidy. No. Come as you are because Jesus sees the best in you because he loves you. And I promise to love you like Jesus because I am not better than you. I promise to love you because my God chose to love me. So you see, don't compare yourself to others. It will be a constant disappointment. Love yourself the way you are and constantly seek to become more like Jesus because through Jesus we have an undeniable love and light for those around us. Be happy in who you are because your identity is not in yourself but rather who you are seeped in Jesus' love. And Jesus' love is all you could ever ask for. I am not better than you. Jesus is better than us. Jesus is the one we should compare ourselves to. Love like Jesus.
~Sarah
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