I wanna be like Abraham, you know. I don't want people to see me, but I want them to see my Father actively involved in my life. I want them to see his favor and love for me. And I want them to see that it isn't by my behavior that he loves me. I want always to point them to Jesus.
Not that I don't want to have good behavior. As a Christian, of course I don't want to sin. Duh. But I don't want people to think I am a Christian because of my behavior, nor do I want them to think God loves me because of how good I am. I want them to see God in my messiness and in my humanity. I want them to see this treasure in a jar of clay.
When you look at the life of Abraham, you don't see a God who loves and favors Abraham for his behavior, but you see a God who loves and favors Abraham because of he believes God. Notice I didn't say because he believed in God, but he believed God. God wants those who are willing to believe he loves them. To be like Ruth and dare to believe that he will love me no matter what. Charles Spurgeon once said something like, "Even if you are thrown into the pits of hell, do not stop believing." Just believe. Make the choice to make the jump into the free-fall of his grace. He swears by an oath that he will catch you.
I want to be one of the Christians who helps the world to see that equating the word Christian with good behavior, whether bad or good is absolutely wrong. Christianity isn't about good behavior or bad behavior. It isn't about behavior! It's about the grace of our Lord Jesus being offered to all who DARE to believe. To those are are crazy enough to trust it.
4 comments:
Matt,
Ah...my friend, this is absolutely beautiful. As I was reading along, my heart and mind were saying/thinking..."Me too!" That is how I want to be/express/demonstrate to others. I want what I say and do to point and encourage others to draw to Papa Son Holy Spirit. I want to exude and demonstrate God's character, causing others to want to know Him or know Him more deeply.
By-the-way, I have been so enjoying reading yours, Joel's, Steve's, Jamie, and John's blogs about the conference and the pictures!! I'm so happy you all MET and spent good time together. Very cool stuff!
Blessings,
~Amy :)
Matt,
That was truly awesome. That's what I want for my life too.
My former pastor once said that being a Christian is about behavior, and where you DON'T go, or what you DON'T say, or what you DON'T listen to, and who you DON'T associate with.
Yes life is messy, and we try to clean it up to look better to the world when the inside is like a whitewashed tomb.
Thanks for sharing your heart.
Love you, man
Great post! I agree with the others. It's not about me, it's about His life in me. That's what I want others to see.
Hey Amy,
Jesus said the way to demonstrate God's character to the unbelieving is through our love for one another. It's interesting Jesus didn't say the world would know us for our love for everyone, but for our love for each other. It's okay to be biased! :)
John,
Thanks brother! It's interesting he says being a Christian is about behavior. It's my opinion that if you think being Christian is about your behavior, then you are probably not one.
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate. Many will seek to enter but will not be able" Now tie what Jesus said in with what Paul said in Romans:
"What shall we say, then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue (did not seek) righteousness have attained it! But that the Jews who pursued (sought to enter) a law of righteousness did not succeed (were not able) in reaching it. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone."
"Yes life is messy, and we try to clean it up to look better to the world when the inside is like a whitewashed tomb" - EXACTLY! Scrambling to sew some sort of fig leaves to cover up our nakedness.
I love you too, John.
Joel,
That's just it. I cannot be about me. The law is spiritual but my flesh is carnal. How can carnal flesh meet the standards of spirituality by carnality? I speak of re-dedicating!
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