Couldn't sleep so I decided to blog. You know, we are in the middle of an interesting series at DBC called "Identity" based on Ephesians 1:3-14. And with that in mind, I just wanted to share with you guys what God has been teaching me lately.
The more I see what God has done fore me the more I become convinced of how little I am. Finding my identity in Christ has led me to believe that I can be so much more in Christ then I can be on my own. In a few hours I will be speaking to the English ministry at DBC on how we were chosen by God and what that means. Of one thing I am convinced, if God didn't choose me, I can't see how I would choose him... I don't have all the answers to how God chooses, I am certain that he is just and omnibenevolent, I don't know who he will choose, or even if those he doesn't choose he rejects, or simply allows them to step away from him (I realize perhaps my thought went over a lot of you guys' heads but... oh well, I've got a lot in my mind right now). But I would like to share two things that God has shown me because he's chosen me.
1. God chose me, therefore it is not me that is good, it is Him. You see, the image of Christianity is burned out nowadays in the world, because those who claim to be Christians do not understand the work that Christ has done for us. Christianity has become a synonym of superiority for many. I am Christian, therefore I am better then the world. I am Christian, and because I've believed I am going to heaven, the whole world is going to hell and I'm digging it! Man, there is something really wrong with that mindset... first of all, where is the compassion? Where is the love that we as Christians are going to be recognized by? Where is the resemblance to Christ? I am not suggesting that we water down the message of the gospel and tell the whole world that they will be okay believing whatever they want, but does your heart break for the lost? Do you even care that there are so many people dying every minute and stepping into a hopeless eternity? So often we are so happy with our "accomplishments" in Christ that we get the attitutde that literally the whole world can go to hell!
When we as Christians understand our depravity and realize that we are no better then the murderers and rapists out there, we will see the lost as potential Christians. Because we are no better than they are, we are all only one decision away from stupid and have the potential of becoming a the worst of human kind at any time. When Christians understand that we have no merit for our spiritual accomplishments outside of Christ, our "spiritual ego" will be shattered into a thousand pieces and we will see those who don't have Christ as equal, with the crucial difference that we are redeemed by the actions of Christ.
2 God chose me, therefore he cares. Next week we will be talking at DBC about God's adoption. You see, God doesn't just want to have a friendship with us, but a deep meaningful relationship. He wants us to receive what is his, and he wants to receive what is ours. We often say that we want to find out what God has in store for us, but have you ever thought that God also wants so see and hear what you have in store for you? You know, he doesn't just want to redeem us, he wants to relate to us. How often do we stand God up because we wanted to sleep in a little longer, or because Law and Order was too interesting to take some time apart to hang with him? Man, often I know I sadden God with my carelessness and apathy, but GOD CARES!!! Even when I ignore him, and act like the soil with thorns, HE CARES! Man, what a great God, he specializes in second chances because HE CARES! he specializes in forgiveness because HE CARES! He specializes in patience because HE CARES! He specializes in relationship BECAUSE HE TRULY CARES!!! Man, in my heart I want to care, I struggle with caring, I want to want him! And when I care, he reminds me that he too cares.
Guys, I don't know how much sense I make, but I felt like God led me to put "my heart on the paper" I won't proofread this blog because I don't want to let my judgement interfere in what God has to say, but man let me tell you, you will never be all that you can be until you meet the one who designed you. HE CARES about you!
Be blessed people!
In Him,
Lucas
