The desire to be more like God often leads us in unexpected places. Over the past few decades I have read numerous stories about the people of God. Some of these saints are well known and others are hidden from the public. In a few cases it seemed like the individuals knew their destiny in Christ Jesus, but for the most, they found their life as they lived it with the Lord. It was this adventure and life fulfillment, mixed together, that was the most common path.
I have recently talked with people in the greater Peoria area about their life. We shared stories about the road we hoped for and the rode we are on. We expressed our opinions on the radical extreme passion of youth and the loving tenacity of faithfulness. In all, we started to see in others both the longing of their heart to be all God desired of them, and the reality that they mostly thought of themselves as “not making the mark”. It is a hard life when the one you love the most is also the one whom you feel is most displeased with you.
I cannot speak to many people, but let me share with those of you who are mostly loving and kind, daily live with some unfulfilled aspect of your life and mostly wondering, “God what am I doing”?
In a land far away and in a time forgotten, the God of heaven had a plan to transform all who sought after Him. In this plan of divine wisdom and grace, everyone mattered and success was determined more in terms of decade than days. People were called upon to spend their whole lives living out the wisdom and instruction of God. No world changing events were required. No simplicity of devotion, to small. It was enough, maybe even more than enough, that you touch your family and a dozen others with full passion and forgiveness for the Master.
So take a moment and add to your life a historical reflection. Do you love God and desire to love Him more, through obedience to His will? Do you forgive your family and openly love them as best you can, not pretending to be better than you are and not pretending to be worse? Do you have friendships over the course of your life in which you have played a part in another person’s love and obedience to God? Can you name them? Can you name 12 people whom you have helped in life?
Today you live in a world where followers of Jesus Christ have mostly told others how to live when we were to show them how to live. That showing mostly involved the simple wonders of everyday life. Faithfulness at work, love toward enemies and abusers, humility in the face of praise, devotion to God in the pressure to love this world; these are the truths of great saints.
The most radical people for Christ I have ever met never told anyone they were radical for Christ. But I watched as they loved those we neglect, give when they had no wealth, share when they longed to horde to themselves and share the story of God when it cost them jobs, friendships and family. Our Theology says we are to be like Jesus, but our desires are to have a bigger ministry, reputation and impact than He did. Allow your desire to be like God to lead you to a simple and powerful life.
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