Learning
Finishing up high school and all the youth group things has left me with a gaping hole of time in my day. Quite honestly, it’s a little daunting. My hurried pace of life is a form of discontentment. Why should I be discontent, when I can rest in the words of Jesus on the cross…
“IT.
IS.
FINISHED.”
When I hear those words, I’ve come to understand my forgetful nature. I forget the sacrifice that Jesus made for me, then I get trapped in the cycle of religion. Trying to obtain the love of Christ as if it’s something to be obtained. When in reality it’s a gift to be accepted moment by moment.
Religion is legalistic.
A relationship is realistic.
So, I must remind myself of the gospel truth on a daily basis. And in order to do that, God is teaching me to practice Sabbath, stillness, surrender, silence and solitude. Easy enough, right?
Unlearning
Just when I think I can handle the things God has given to me to deal with, I’m quickly humbled when my own efforts are put to the test.
Hardships and change are there to strip me of my illusions of control.
Whether it be with grades, the mental condition of my friends, the satisfaction of customers at work or in the words of my talk at YoungLife. All the things I’ve thought myself to be in control of, are quickly changed by God, who is in ultimate control.
Growth isn’t so much a hierarchy, but rather an intricate process of ups and downs. Because I’m not leveling up by any means. Rather I’m having to surrender my own agenda to the feet of the cross to be deconstructed, dismantled and disassembled in order to walk humbly to be made new.
Becoming more like-Christ is becoming less like me.
So growth is much more returning to the form God had originally designed us for. He has taught me to unlearn all my preconceived ideas made by the world in order to learn the new ideas God has yet to reveal to me.
Relearning
As soon as I look beyond what God has put in front of me, I become overwhelmed by all that needs change and transformation.
But God knows our limits and has designed it so that we can steward the day that is given to us. Anything beyond that is beyond our strength. So steward the moment and surrender the rest.
Jesus says to take up your cross DAILY. Not weekly, not monthly, not yearly. But daily.
Give God today.
Everyday remind yourself of the truth of the gospel and be renewed by the gift of eternity God has given to you. Rejoice! Find rest! Surrender! These are the words I, most of all, need to hear.
