Saturday, March 17, 2007

Purpose in Unity

“I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” Psalm 89:1

I’ve been asking myself why I spend time trying to write – or anything that requires so much time, effort, and rejection. In God’s faithfulness he answered my questions with the verse above and the wise counsel of friends.

A friend challenged me with questions that helped me to understand my passion more clearly. In the past I have stated my passion as a desire to inspire others into intimacy with Christ. Her questions revealed my deeper desire. I don’t really want to influence people. My influence is limited and short lived. My desire is to find others who are in an intimate relationship with Christ.

Three verses that have stood out to me for some time are:

John 17:23 “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Ephesians 4:10-13 “He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

2 Peter 1:3-4 “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

Yes, we are called to make disciples. But no one can be a disciple unless God the Father has enabled him. John 6 is full of clarity of the fact that we cannot draw people to Christ. Only God can draw people to himself. I am convinced that we make disciples – not only of others but of ourselves – by uniting with others who have been drawn by God.

Then, when those who have been drawn and are growing and united, those who God is drawing will see and know God’s love through Christ. They will then unite with those who are already united. It’s pretty simple really.

Jesus says his yoke is easy and burden is light. We complicate things by putting pressure on ourselves to draw people to Christ. The pressure is off of me. I don’t have to build my speaking, writing and consulting business to save the world. God has given me this opportunity to unite with others.

You see, I want to unite with those who have experienced the power and presence of an intimate relationship with Christ. Not for protection but for the purpose of letting the world see God’s love. I find them when I share my thoughts in writing and they respond. I find them when I ask questions that only a consultant is allowed to ask. I find them when I speak and someone looks into my eyes with the “that’s happened to me too” look.

When I unite, others will see and unite also. Now that is powerful purpose!

“I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.” Psalm 89:2

1 comment:

Sista Cala said...

Well, you have found another who is intimate w/God. I too have limited time to write and read in the blogosphere, but I am finding that even a short visit brings much satisfaction.

I began blogging at my sister's insistance, but it has filled a need in me also. It is driving me to study more and "boil the cabbage" as a professor once put it. Meaning, take the larger raw material and boil it down into a manageable meal.

the mission:
PROCLAIM the good news; HEAL the sick and oppressed; BRING JUSTICE
~ Luke 4:16-20

Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing (John 14:12)
~ Jesus 


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