Are you so focused on keeping all the rules that you're missing the point of them?
Luke 18:18-30 records a conversation Jesus had with a rich ruler about getting into the Kingdom the God. We easily see the connection to putting trust in our worldly wealth as being the problem. Jesus tells him to sell at he had and give to the poor, which causes the ruler to go away sad because he had great wealth.
We know the importance of where we're storing up our treasure, because it reflects on where our heart is. In our culture it's easy to focus on our money and possessions because so many see it as the most important thing. But Jesus calls us to see treasure elsewhere.
As I was reflecting on this conversation Jesus had with this ruler, I was struck by something else this time. Jesus' first answer to the man was about keeping God's commandments. The ruler's response struck me: "All these I have kept since I was a boy." (Luke 18:21). This ruler lived a good life, a moral life, but something was still missing. He still didn't have the full picture.
It's after this that Jesus talks about selling all he has and giving to the poor. When He said this Jesus was revealing the ruler's heart. This ruler was focused on keeping all the rules, or doing the right thing. And, in doing so, he had missed the point of them.
That brings me to the question I started this post with: Are you so focused on keeping all the rules that you're missing the point of them?
It can be easy to get caught up in doing all the right things, in living according to the rules, but when it comes to anything with a cost we're not willing to go there. Outwardly we're in, but when it comes to our hearts we're not there. We've gotten focused on the checklist and we've missed the point.
Where have you gotten so focused on keeping the rules and missed the relationship and the heart that's the most important?
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
The Light that Draws People
"We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it." -Madeleine L'Engle
I've been thinking a lot lately about how we share the gospel in the culture we live in. A culture with massive and ever growing divisions among various groups of people. The dividing lines we draw seem to be becoming more and more pronounced.
So much of what we hear today is about discrediting "the other side." About telling people they're wrong and we're right. Most people seem to just want to prove themselves right, at everyone else's expense.
And that has an influence on how we share the gospel with people. If we get caught up in the anger and the drawing of lines and trying to prove we're right with everyone else, then our gospel message is compromised. It will affect our ability to be heard - really heard, rather than just being more noise.
That's where I think the quote I opened this post with is so important. Our light shining in the darkness of this world is the way forward. It doesn't mean we don't talk about our faith. In many ways, I believe it means we clearly speak the gospel message, but we also have to do so in a way that makes people want what we have. Our speaking and our living have to come from a place of love, because that's what will attract people to the source of the light we have.
"We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it." -Madeleine L'Engle
I've been thinking a lot lately about how we share the gospel in the culture we live in. A culture with massive and ever growing divisions among various groups of people. The dividing lines we draw seem to be becoming more and more pronounced.
So much of what we hear today is about discrediting "the other side." About telling people they're wrong and we're right. Most people seem to just want to prove themselves right, at everyone else's expense.
And that has an influence on how we share the gospel with people. If we get caught up in the anger and the drawing of lines and trying to prove we're right with everyone else, then our gospel message is compromised. It will affect our ability to be heard - really heard, rather than just being more noise.
That's where I think the quote I opened this post with is so important. Our light shining in the darkness of this world is the way forward. It doesn't mean we don't talk about our faith. In many ways, I believe it means we clearly speak the gospel message, but we also have to do so in a way that makes people want what we have. Our speaking and our living have to come from a place of love, because that's what will attract people to the source of the light we have.
"We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it." -Madeleine L'Engle
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
What is Transformation?
What is transformation?
How do we find it or create it?
Is it completely God's job? Or do we have a part to play in it?
These are some of the questions that have been running through my head for a while. I seem to keep coming back to them.
In many ways they're foundational to how we live as Christians. We talk about transformation - about our need for it, about how we are or are supposed to be transformed to be more and more like Christ. But, what so we actually mean by it? And how does it happen?
I looked up the word transformation recently and was struck by part of the definition for it: "change in form, appearance, nature, or character." That seemed to be what we're talking about when we talk about transformation.
It's about our character becoming more and more Christ-like.
So, if that's what we're talking about, then what is needed for that to happen?
Because my brain works best in the world of math, as I've thought about this, it had been a math formula that has summed up my thoughts. I'll share more thoughts and explain what I mean by it, but I'll start by sharing the "formula":
So, what do I mean by belonging and identity?
Belonging is the safe place we need. A place where we're accepted exactly where we are and as we are. The place where we're loved and cared about. This is vital if we're going to come to a place of change.
Identity is about understanding the truth of who we are in Christ. It's about learning who we are in God's eyes. A firm, unchanging, stable identity.
It's when we have both of these - belonging and identity - that transformation can happen. And the order of them in important. It has to start with belonging. Once we feel like we belong - once we feel safe and loved as we are right now - we are able to start hearing the truth about our identity. As our understanding of our true identity in Christ grows in our safe place of belonging, we're transformed.
So, if we go back to the questions I opened this post with:
Transformation comes from having a safe place to understand and learn more fully our true identity in Christ. We need both a safe place to belong and to hear the truth of our identity in Christ to be transformed.
Transformation is God's job. We can't and don't have the responsibility to create it. Our part is to be available to God to use. He often chooses to use the people around us in this. So, our role is to be willing to be used by God and to be listening to what He is saying to us about who we are in Him.
How do we find it or create it?
Is it completely God's job? Or do we have a part to play in it?
These are some of the questions that have been running through my head for a while. I seem to keep coming back to them.
In many ways they're foundational to how we live as Christians. We talk about transformation - about our need for it, about how we are or are supposed to be transformed to be more and more like Christ. But, what so we actually mean by it? And how does it happen?
I looked up the word transformation recently and was struck by part of the definition for it: "change in form, appearance, nature, or character." That seemed to be what we're talking about when we talk about transformation.
It's about our character becoming more and more Christ-like.
So, if that's what we're talking about, then what is needed for that to happen?
Because my brain works best in the world of math, as I've thought about this, it had been a math formula that has summed up my thoughts. I'll share more thoughts and explain what I mean by it, but I'll start by sharing the "formula":
Belonging + Identity = Transformation
Belonging is the safe place we need. A place where we're accepted exactly where we are and as we are. The place where we're loved and cared about. This is vital if we're going to come to a place of change.
Identity is about understanding the truth of who we are in Christ. It's about learning who we are in God's eyes. A firm, unchanging, stable identity.
It's when we have both of these - belonging and identity - that transformation can happen. And the order of them in important. It has to start with belonging. Once we feel like we belong - once we feel safe and loved as we are right now - we are able to start hearing the truth about our identity. As our understanding of our true identity in Christ grows in our safe place of belonging, we're transformed.
So, if we go back to the questions I opened this post with:
Transformation comes from having a safe place to understand and learn more fully our true identity in Christ. We need both a safe place to belong and to hear the truth of our identity in Christ to be transformed.
Transformation is God's job. We can't and don't have the responsibility to create it. Our part is to be available to God to use. He often chooses to use the people around us in this. So, our role is to be willing to be used by God and to be listening to what He is saying to us about who we are in Him.
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