Lesson 2: Transformed by Crazy Love

More than just Your Head in the Game...

It's true, many a player has been told, "get your head in the game" because they seem to lack focused attention on their mission. Many people claiming to be Christ followers also seem to lack focused attention on their mission. The cares of this world have drawn their concerns and priorities away from the "one thing" (1 Corinthians 10:33, Matthew 28:18-19, Luke 19:10) which is a reflection of the greatest thing. (Luke 10:27)

HOWEVER, even with those who have their "head in the game", it takes more. Players who sit on the side lines and who know everything about "the game" but who refuse to actually get into the game, have no future except to be dropped by their coach.

It takes more than wishing, hoping, and praying to be in the army of The Lord, it takes humility and commitment to follow the marching to the orders. It takes walking in the Light. It takes loving Christ and others which is doing the Will of the Father. It takes partnering with God on "The Mission."

Too many of us have our head in the game, but not much else. "Why call me, Lord, and do not the things that I say?"

Timely message sent to me this week:

"There is a difference between believing something is beneficial and opening up your heart, mind and life to let that beneficial thing in," Geof Morin of the American Bible Society (ABS)…..”Some people view reading the Bible as taking your medicine rather than a life-changing encounter with God."

Crazy Love - Chapter 1 - Stop Praying

"Sometimes we struggle with how to properly respond to Majesty of God" and consequently what results amounts to ignoring Him or merely tolerating the thought of Him. These are the responses we see from much of the world. To go beyond the the spiritually anemic status quo may be challenging in the present world....not because of persecution, but because of being noticed, being unique, or being different or "bucking" the system.

We are often more concerned about our own image than we are about becoming the image of the Son of God. We are often more concerned about our human schedules, "to do lists" for each day than we are about prioritizing Kingdom concerns each day. Let's be honest, if He is the Vine and we are the branches, then we truly have His mission flowing through our veins. If we are withered branches, He will cut us off.   

How does one respond to the Great I AM?

LISTEN: There can be little relationship with one who does not listen. God is speaking, calling, commissioning, setting up spiritual events, arranging encounters & conversations, and providing opportunities for each one of His followers. Are we attentive or just too busy?

MEDITATE: Keeping our mind fully engaged in the Will of God and sensitive to His calling does not mean we sit on a mountain top. Rather, it may only mean that we tune out the noise of this world while we are in our car, at lunch, on our break, or during a dedicated time so that we can allow the Spirit to strengthenn our inner self.

Too often, we plan vacations, retirement, parties, sports events, and graduations with more sensitivity and purpose to details than we do Kingdom concerns.

LOVING PRAISE: If we truly attempt to contemplate with our feeble minds the awesomeness of God and His great mercy towards us, we can only respond in praise and love. We will proclaim Him among the nations, to all people, all types, in all settings. If He is the Vine and we are the branches, we live to be IN HIM and FOR HIM.

PURPOSE BEFORE THE THRONE: If we have a loving covenant relationship with God, then we understand our position in the Universe as servant of the one true God. We have been commissioned by Him for the "one thing" to reflect the greatest thing. The way we order, prioritize, and spend our time and efforts completely changes. Our identity as "branches" gives us purpose--bearing fruit through His power. There have been many sermons on what the nature of this fruit might be...but I like these two passages:

Titus 3:14 --And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

2 Peter 1:6-8 And to knowledge add self-control; and to self-control patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things be in your, and abound, they make you neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Anyone who lacks them is blind and shortsighted, forgetting the cleansing of past sins.

Our purpose must include the Vision of God for our lives, the commission for the "one thing" to reflect the greatest thing. The follower of Christ commits lovingly to a journey of development where Christ takes over heart, mind, soul, and strength and we respond by submitting to that process.

Ministry describes our roles as the people of God. We have gotten too accustomed to letting "staff" do the work each Christian was called to do. We have grown up lacking the skills or confidence to bring our witness of Christ's glory to the world.

Matt Smay asks this question in Transcend (Chapter 1),

"How do we help people shake off the cultural values of independence and consumerism and replace them with an insatiable need to love and serve others while growing each day to be more like Jesus?"

How do we become followers....those who walk in His foot steps of ministry and mission to the world?

We submit! God help us to turn our selfish lifestyles in to servant lifestyles.

Lord remove the fleshly formula that the American pursuit of happiness has placed over our eyes. Renew in us a right spirit and a glorious sense of purpose.

Consider:
(1) What are some consumeristic traits that I have that might be keeping me from being an effective "branch?"


(2) What priorities have I put first, in front of Kingdom concerns?



(3) How much time this week did I spend contemplating the deeper things of the Kingdom?



(4) What did I ask in prayer this week that did not fall under the "first thing" category?
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