White picket fences. Granite countertops. Beautiful hardwood floors. Fast cars. Filtered photos. Pillow-topped mattresses. Lazy Boy recliners. Savings accounts. Mutual funds. Success. Happiness.
The American dream as we know it.
Can we escape it? Do we want to? Probably not.
But we need to.
Jesus followers, “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Our motivations are eternally focused. Our desires are not our own, for we are called to empty ourselves – losing our lives for the sake of Christ (Luke 9:23-26). We are called to be like soldiers of Christ who focus on our commander’s business.
We follow a God who is on a mission to redeem His creation, for He desires that no one perish, but all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). And the crazy thing is, He calls us all to be a part of His redemption mission. Part of this is becoming completely wrecked – for His glory and by His power.
Want to know how to wreck your life (in a good way)? Want to know what it looks like to live a life of greater purpose and greater significance than you’ve ever imagined?
Soak this in…
God Have Your Way With Me
Proceed cautiously. Do you really want to wreck your life? Only if you do should you take this first step.
Fall to your knees and pray, God have your way with me.
In doing this you are approaching your King in the most honoring and appropriate posture you could ever approach Him with. This is what faith is really about – falling to your knees and acknowledging your complete dependence on the Creator of the Universe for all things.
We’re called to “be transformed by the renewing of our minds,” and the only way this is going to happen is for you to submit to God and let the Spirit do a work in you (Romans 12:1-2).
Pray this expectantly, for He will change you beyond what you can fathom. I know from experience. Pray and hold on tight. He’s going to take you on a ride!
Ruin My Focus
Not only should you be approaching God in prayer about this, but you should also make it a habit to read His word, the Bible, consistently. We’re called to set our minds on things above rather than on things here on earth (Colossians 3:1-17).
I believe that if God’s people would be more about God’s business, the Church would see life-change become a regularity rather than an anomaly.
Instead of being focused on acquiring more wealth and more stuff, turn your focus to how you can use what you have for the expansion of the Kingdom of God – your finances, skills, time, and relationships.
Focus on that which is eternal. In fact, fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2).
Pray for a better focus and read God’s word regularly. By doing so, you’ll begin to fixate on the Kingdom of God.
Ruin My Ethics
Over the past week I’ve had the challenge of translating part of Luke 6 from the original Greek into English. As our class studied this text, one thing became abundantly clear – the way of Christ (and the way of Christians) is the way of utter selflessness. Maybe I could go even further and say the way of Christ is the way of self-abandonment for the sake of others.
Love your enemies.
Bless those who curse you.
Pray for those who abuse you.
If someone hits you, let them hit you again (and don’t hit them back).
If someone steals from you, don’t try to get it back.
Oh, and Jesus also talked a lot about the whole woe to you who are rich stuff, which if you are an American you’re automatically included in that grouping. Don’t believe me? Find out how high you are on the rank of the world’s wealthiest of people.
[shareable]The way of Christ is the way of self-abandonment for the sake of others.[/shareable]
The way of Christ is completely counter-cultural. We don’t naturally adopt a posture of weakness with other people. We don’t typically extend blessings to those who are cursing us. We don’t typically pray for those who abuse us.
But this is what we are called to. The Holy Spirit is working in you to mold you and change you into a person who is more reflective of Christ. How much are you hindering or welcoming that process?
Love God More?
When asked what is the greatest command of all, Jesus declared that it is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37).
Want to know how to wreck your life? Ask yourself this question in all situations: is this helping me love God more?
Christianity is a religion of relationship. It’s dynamic and living. You have the opportunity to invest in your relationship with God or not. You have the opportunity, every day, to love Him with your whole being, or not.
[shareable]Christianity is a religion of relationship. It’s dynamic and living.[/shareable]
Is this helping me love God more? If it is, give it your all. If it isn’t, give it nothing.
Love People More?
In the same breath of declaring what the greatest command of all is, Jesus also tells us what the second most important command is – to love your neighbor as yourself.
Want to know how to have a completely wrecked life? A life that is on mission, on purpose, and about God’s business? Ask yourself, in every situation: is this helping me love people more?
Followers of Jesus radically love people. Plain and simple.
Wreck Your Life and Begin Living the Best Life
What is left to do now is to put these things into practice, buckle up, and hold on tight as God changes you, molds you, and pushes you to be about His will, His purposes, and His ways.
Start praying, reading, and asking. We’re called to so much more than we typically acknowledge and its time to begin living into our calling. Let’s go!
