A Living Sacrifice

In the car a couple days ago I was rerunning a random conversation from the past and thinking how different my reply would be now. The situation that elicited the discussion was about a friend who was a talented actress. She was cast in a play in which the costumes were racy, the dialogue not edifying, and the after hours activities of the cast were very much worldly.

Within our conversation, I asked why she took the role, with as many spiritual concessions she was having to make. In essence, her reply was that God gave her this gift of acting (which I do not doubt in the least), and that if she was going to use it these were the types of boundaries that she was going to have to cross. The response that I would change had something to do with her trying to be a light in the darkness.

When Paul writes that we should be living sacrifices, we seem to apply that to things we have some semblance of control over. I'm going to not see 'R' rated movies - sacrifice, I'll tithe - sacrifice, every week I will go to church - sacrifice, maybe if I am feeling super spiritual, I will fast - sacrifice. You tracking with me? But what if our living sacrifice had more to do with us?

Maybe my advice to my friend should have been something like - if you believe that God gave you this gift, maybe He is asking for you to offer it back as an act of worship for his glory. The lack of godliness in the roles you are pursuing may be something God is trying to use to draw you closer to him and being satisfied in his love alone, rather than being satisfied using the gift. Maybe, just maybe that is the thing that you are to lay on the altar our of your love for Christ.

A living sacrifice.

How would she have responded? I can guess. That is a totally skewed view compared with most things I've read and heard over the years. But it seems to fit.

Ever think about the gifted communicator that is jailed for his convictions? John Bunyan comes to mind. Why did God allow him to be there when so many people could benefit from his eloquence, which by the way was his gift in Bunyan's life. I think it is probable that God love John enough that He wanted John to lay his gift on the altar as living sacrifice. God gave the gift and for a season Bunyan got to give it back as an act of worship. He could have lied to get out and continue preaching, God could have sent an angel to unlock his chains and walk him out the front door, but instead God was most pleased to have Bunyan lay his gift on the altar.

A living sacrifice.

It is God we are to delight in, not anything else, including using the gifts He's given us.

Maybe this is why God allows women who are designed to bear children to be frustrated; people who are designed for intimacy not to be able to attain it; those who save and save not to be able to get ahead; people to be held back in using the special gifts.

We are to be living sacrifices, please to God in Christ despite our performance, and He wants us to delight in him just because "I AM". Independent of what we get from him and independent of our circumstances.

Let's experience his rest and become the living sacrifices He desires.

Jesus is the Blessing

There is a trap that it is very easy for Christians to fall into. It is really so subtle that it is almost universally pronounced and few try to claw their way out of it. It is the contention that Christianity is supposed to have benefits for this life. We call them blessings.

When you become a Christian, you life will become peaceful. Or we challenge people to obediently tithe in order to receive a material blessing. Follow Christian principles to have a blessed marriage. Raise your children in the way they should go and they will turn out the way you want. On and on an on we could go.

Problem is, that is not what Jesus promised. Nor it is the experience of almost every Christian who has lived. The stones hit Stephen. Peter and Paul were martyred. John lived a hard life imprisoned on an island. Life is hard. This world, in almost every facet, rebels against the Christ follower's presence here. Sure, some Christians do experience rich material and emotional blessings, but those are the exceptions - God's choice - but not intended to be held up as the rule of our lives.

If you've been discouraged in your life with Christ, maybe it is because you are holding onto some expectations that by following God, you are supposed to have some benefit that sets you apart.

I've recounted in early blog posts this line of thinking describes my expectations of God before my affair. If I was good enough, God will make everything right. And give me what I want. While the things I wanted were "spiritual", they were as unhealthy as if I expected a million dollars to fall from the sky. That was an exhausting way to think. No blessing? Things not working out? Try harder.

Today I had the most amazing realization. The latest mile marker on my journey of trust and strength. My heart has been leaping with delight all day. I've been inching along toward this for awhile and I know I'll still battle this after declaring it, but lots of pieces fell into place today.

Jesus IS the blessing. Not any potential interventions God can make in your life. Not financial security. Not a harmonious marriage. Not a fulfilling job. Not healthy kids. Not, not, not, not.... Those are not THE blessing we are promised, Jesus is.

Jesus says of himself that he is the way, the truth and the life. Get that?

Jesus is our life. Not Jesus plus something else. Just Jesus. Jesus is the blessing. He is my identity. Everything must flow from my identity in Christ. He is the living water that flows forth from within me.

Tomorrow I am going with my 10 year old daughter to St. Augustine. A city that was founding by a guy looking for the fountain of youth. A flow of water that would give eternal youth. Good ole Ponce looked everywhere outside himself for this fountain. He should have looked inward. Jesus is the fountain. Jesus is the blessing.

I told my wife today, with all seriousness, that because of her I am the luckiest man in the world. God loved me enough to give her to me. Without our relationship, I would have had a harder road having my heart transformed to know Jesus is my blessing. From that I also know that I am called to show her how loved she is in order to understand God's love for her. I am to lovingly serve her and be a blessing as Christ is to me. Yes, that's written in Ephesians, but it is now more than words, it has meaning beyond what is written.

Another example, you can't start with the product, you have to start with the identity.

Jesus is the blessing. Amen.