The Journey part 1
I think I'm stuck on a theme here. The theme of something bigger--more abundant, if I can say it that way. Not afterlife, which is what a lot of the church world seems to be stuck on, but LIFE. Never ending, eternal, everlasting, abundant, Resurrection Life. And here's where my heart's at: It's a journey. A journey into the heart of the matter. Which is the heart. God's heart. Beating in our chests. Beating with love. Learning how to love--how to LIVE--by learning how we are loved. Look at Matthew 11:28-30 in the Message Bible, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." This is so powerful to me. This is Jesus standing at the door and knocking. Offering us a more excellent way. Not man-centered performance based religion where you have to do in order to be. Not works and labor trying to change into something--someone--you're not. But simply recovering our lives. Getting back the very thing that Adam lost when he ate from the tree of death. Not "getting" something new but being RENEWED. God didn't say He'd make all new things. He said He'd make all things new. He didn't give up on you in favor of something else. And He doesn't expect, or want, you to BE something else. He loves you just the way you are. What He wants is for you to SEE yourself the way you REALLY are so you can BE who you really are. And that happens when you learn the unforced rhythms of grace. When you stop trying to be someone you're not and start resting in who you are. Resting in Him. Getting away with Him and learning that it's not about "you." It's about Him. In you. Through you. As you. Your true identity is who your Daddy says you are. Who you are in Christ. Who Christ is in you. THAT'S the journey. Not becoming someone you're not, but learning who you really are. I'm convinced that every time the Bible tells you to "get" something--in light of the finished work of the cross--what it really means is "receive what you have been given." We already have it all, because we have Him. Because He has us. God moved into the neighborhood--into the house that you are--and He's not moving out. And listen, it might seem like He's cleaning house. It might feel like the Gardner is pruning you. But the truth is, all of that already happened. You are not BECOMING complete in Him. You ARE complete in Him. That feeling of change is really just the revelation of the change that took place. It's the manifestation of what has always been true of you coming out from deep within. The inner man. The hidden man of the heart. But no longer hidden. Remember now, the mystery (Christ in you) has been revealed. And continues to reveal itself (Himself) every time you step out in faith and love somebody. Every time the Word is made flesh. Every time love becomes an act of charity. That's the journey. Letting what's in you come out. And it can only come out naturally, as you fill yourself to overflowing with the love of God!