Revelations

I have come to two conclusions. The first: no one really reads my blog. You can tell by the overwhelming comment spam I got on that last open-ended question to the blogging world. Sigh. I'm hurt, folks. Or should I say folk? Okay, I'm only semi-serious, but that is a jolt of reality. No, I am not a widely read and circulated online journalist. Rats.

The second conclusion, well, you should buckle down and have a seat, because are you in for a long one (well, maybe, if I can keep my mind on one-track). This is going back to the previous post, based on the statement from the Beth Moore study Living Free. She writes, "Christians can be miserably dissatisfied if they accept Christ's salvation yet reject the fullness of a daily relationship that satisfies." Whew. Is that a chunk of burnin' love or what.

One of the things I have always, repeat: always, struggled with is the threat of mediocrity and ineffectiveness. I really believe that Christians, myself included, myself especially, become bored and dissatisfied with the Christian life because they become satisfied with inactivity, mediocrity. How many times have I caught myself treading water, my head just barely above the surface? Sure, I've got myself covered eternally, but not only am I miserable, but I am truly missing something more.

What I am learning above all from this devotional is that there are layers and layers of what God wants to fulfill in our lives. Salvation is just the foundation and base of what He longs to give us. Salvation ensures our eternity, while the relationship He calls us to fulfills our daily lives now, fulfills our destiny today. This life is not just a waiting room for Heaven, but the first leg of the race, the prologue to a classic story, a mere slice of the whole pie. Like them mixed metaphors, huh?

Nothing can separate us from God's love, and no one (present company included) can snatch you from the Father's hand. A mediocre spiritual life does not get you written off the guest list come Heaven time. God doesn't need me to be Super Christian. He doesn't need my work to ensure His success, He doesn't need my faithfulness for Himself to remain faithful. And He certainly doesn't need my consistency to prove Himself the same. He is and is and is. What He wants for me is to be part of the celebration, He wants me to be part of the work and of the adventure and of the dance.

It's so easy to say, "No, thanks, I don't know this song, I'd rather sit this one out" and slowly, slowly back into the corner, becoming the wallflower we all ourselves feel sorry for. Rather, God is calling us to hang on, and let Him lead the dance. Not for His sake, that is just laughable, to think God needs our help. But for our own sakes, for our enjoyment and satisfaction and fulfillment of our God-given destinies. Isn't that something?

Christ delights in us so profoundly that He longs for us to be part of His work. How dare I be content to just be? I feel like a free-loader. Why do I get such satisfaction in doing nothing? The reason why I struggle with that so much is because I suddenly find myself wonderless. Awe-less. Easily distracted and deceitfully tricked. Every reason in the book to fall into the trap of ineffectiveness, believe me, we'll find. I know I do. And I could even argue that a couple are valid excuses. But face it: we will never be worthy enough to be part of God's agenda. We will never be good enough, smart enough, strong enough, pretty enough, or charming enough to get His work done on our own steam. Our inclusion rests only on His saying so. We are invited, not because of who we are, but because of who we know, He who personally put us on the guest list.

So what is the greater work, this adventure that He excitedly draws us to? It is something that goes past salvation, because the adventure of salvation comes only after this life. I myself am still learning what specifically He calls me to. But for everyone, the number one call is the same...we are all called to first and foremost know Christ. By "know," I mean experience. That goes beyond salvation, because again, salvation cannot be experienced in this lifetime. It is an eternal decision and an eternal consequence.

To know Him, to experience Him.

Another open question. How do you explain that in your life? How do you define knowing and experiencing Christ?