Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

Archives for December 2010

Love is… Patience

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Last week we looked at I Corinthians 13:4 in our discussion of kindness as it relates to love (See “Love is… Kindness”). The beginning of that verse says that “love is patient”. I must confess that I am not a patient person. Perhaps that’s why I jumped over the first part of the verse to get to the next! A lack of patience is one of my glaring weaknesses. Sure, I’ve gotten better over the years putting a more pleasant outward face on it, but inwardly I still struggle greatly with showing patience to those around me. My personality type is not known for patience, but I refuse to accept that and use it as an excuse. If I am going to love as Christ loves, then I must learn to increase my patience. Some of you are way ahead of me in this area while others, I’m sure, can relate to my pain.

One of the keys to being patient is learning to be a good listener. Instead of immediately flying off the handle when someone upsets us, we need to learn to pause and listen to what the other person is saying. Ask constructive questions to find out why the person acted (or didn’t act) in the way they did. Too often, I fail to seek to understand why someone failed to accomplish what they told me they were going to do. When someone is two minutes late for a meeting, I start pacing and checking my watch in an agitated fashion. It can be little things that really are of no consequence in the grand scheme of life, yet it is easy to lose our patience. One of the great truths in life is that people are going to let you down. The key is to seek out the circumstances and respond in a positive manner.

Even when we may be justified for losing our patience, it is still up to us to decide how we will respond. When we react with angry or spiteful words, we are damaging our relationship with the other person. It is far more desirable to listen to what they have to say and then respond with words that will not harm your rapport. Remember Paul’s admonishment in Ephesians 4:2, 3. In these verses Paul exhorts us to be patient with one another and to diligently keep unity (or peace). Harsh words show a lack of patience and lead to anything but peace or unity in our relationships.

As a volunteer financial counselor and life coach, I have endured more than my share of disappointment with the actions of those who come seeking assistance. It is far easier to simply lose patience and throw my hands up than it is to recognize that each person I encounter is a highly valued and loved creation of God who is free to make their own choices based on the circumstances of their own life and experience. We cannot control the choices of others or how they behave, but we can control our response to them. No matter how many times they disappoint us or act in ways which we do not approve, if our love for them is genuine, we will patiently accept what has happened and move on. It’s okay to let them know how their actions made you feel, just make certain you conclude it by affirming them and telling them you just want to put it behind you so it does not hinder your relationship. Showing patience is difficult because the returns on your investment may never come. Love, however, never fails; so neither must our patience wane.

Jesus shows infinite patience with a creation that continuously rejects Him, curses Him and laughs in His face. Through it all He loves us beyond measure. This is how I know patience is an important part of what it means to love. My heart’s desire is to live my life in a way that reflects the love of Jesus to everyone I meet. If I am to demonstrate His love then I must learn to be patient with anyone, regardless of my own feelings or frustrations. I want to love as Jesus loves, so I will choose to be patient. Love is patient, and love is kind. Love is Jesus.

The End of Indecision

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For too long we have gone back and forth about our commitment to Christ. One day we are fired up and nothing can deter us; the next we are self-absorbed, depressed and wondering if it’s all worth it. The inconsistency is killing our effectiveness and causing our lives to spoil. A mixture of hot and cold produces a lukewarm life, a life that Jesus said He will vomit out (Revelation 3:16). I believe I speak for all of us when I say that this is not the person I wish to be; I do not want to live a life so repulsive to Christ that He vomits it out. It’s time to decide, once and for all, where we will place our loyalties. Will we reach for all this life has to offer or will we place everything we have at the feet of the one who gave His life for us?

When we first committed our lives to Jesus we gave no thought to turning back. We understood we were new creations and therefore had been transformed to live differently. Over time we lose our enthusiasm; we allow our clean hearts to be polluted by the sin around us when we drink a little in. It’s not that we intend to turn away; we simply get lazy and let down our guard. We lose sight of the fact that there is a very real, very powerful battle waging for our soul. As physical beings we cannot see the battle, but our spiritual core can feel it. When we tune into the fray, we become aware of the ferocity and we determine anew to stand fast. Too often we live our lives tuned out, concerned only with the tactile realities of the here and now. We get caught up pursuing the American dream, and we succumb to the bombardment of messages from the media. We allow ourselves to drink in the dirty water.

The only way to remain vigilant is to consistently flush our souls with the pure living water of Christ. If we are not spending consistent time in prayer and studying His Word, we will become tainted and our effectiveness will be severely muted. I want my life to shout the love of Christ; I want to shake the world with His love and His message. The only way to accomplish these goals is to remain on purpose and on mission, all the time. An intentional, consistent walk is the only way that leads to victory. Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare? It wasn’t the brilliant bursts of the rabbit that won the race; he got lazy and caught up in his own selfish desires. No, it was the consistency and single-minded purpose of the tortoise that won the race. It is the same in our pursuit of Jesus. If we stay the course and keep our eyes focused on Him, we will accomplish what He has given us to do. Keeping our entire aim on His service while refusing to be distracted by the pleasures of this life will allow us to continue His mission and finish the race for His glory.

As long as we are given to a series of starts and stops, we will not be able to fulfill the purpose for which we were created. A lukewarm life will not get it done, and indeed may end with disastrous consequences. I don’t know how you read it, but being vomited out does not exactly sound like a grand welcoming into Heaven. Jesus calls us to total commitment, and that is exactly what we promised Him when we first surrendered our lives. We promised total devotion; we said that He would be our Lord and we would be His servant. This is not a casual vow; nothing could be more serious. Are we sincere or not? Do we love Him or are we just trying things out? It’s time to put away our indecision and once and for all give the rest of our lives to Christ and Christ alone. As Michael Tait sings in a recent Newsboys song, “I’m giving Him the best of/ Everything that’s left of/ The life inside this man/ I’ve been born again!” Let’s join in that pledge. Let’s give Jesus all we have for the rest of our lives. From this point forward our decision is clear and our path is focused. Let’s pledge to follow Jesus wherever that may lead. No more wavering, no more turning back.

What Now?

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What if you’ve fully surrendered your life to Christ and don’t know what to do next? It’s not as if life comes with neon directional arrows so you know which way to turn at any given moment. You’re ready to sacrifice everything for Christ and do whatever He asks; you simply aren’t certain what He’s asking. What about the talents He’s given you; is it okay to use them for endeavors that aren’t exactly in line with promoting His kingdom? Where do you draw the line? I’ve been battling many of these same issues recently, and I suspect I am not alone. These are weighty questions, and I most assuredly do not have all the answers; but I will share with you what I have been learning in hopes it may be of some help to you.

As followers of Christ, everything we do should be for His honor, for His glory, and to further His Kingdom. We are the servants of Jesus; we are His slaves. When we committed ourselves to Christ we relinquished all claim on our lives; we are His and He is ours. The life we lead for Him cannot be separated from the life we live for ourselves; they are eternally intertwined. No longer is there any concept of things we do for Him and things we do for our self. When determining what we should do with the gifts He has given to us, there is no choice other than to use them for His glory. If you are a singer, you must sing for Him; if you are a teacher, you must teach others about Him; if a craftsmen, use your creations to further His kingdom.

I realize these can seem like vague generalities, and it is most helpful to have concrete examples. Since I don’t know your situation or your gifts, I will attempt to articulate what this looks like in my own life. I have been given the ability to write, and writing in almost any genre comes easily for me. I now realize that all that matters is that I use this gift for Jesus. In my pursuit of earning a living as a full-time writer, I have recently had opportunities to go down paths that held the possibilities of cutting significant time from that goal. I could write for various interests and develop copy to sell the products of others. However, my overriding objective is to shake the world with the love of Jesus. These other opportunities would do nothing to show the love of Christ to my audience; they would simply enhance my own profile and marketability. I struggled with this decision for several days before coming to the conclusion that I must not pursue anything that will take additional time away from my definite chief aim of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus and encouraging others to live in total devotion to Him.

Living life solely for Christ will challenge our logic and alter our perception of things like possessions and economy. We may not obtain the comforts of this world, and we may never know financial security. The only thing we are guaranteed to acquire is increased persecution. The closer we get to Jesus, the more intense the attacks will become. It takes either a special kind of lunatic to pursue this life, or else it takes someone who is madly, deeply in love with Jesus Christ. I prefer to not place myself in the lunatic camp and instead endure whatever may come for the sake and privilege of loving and serving Jesus. I may not always be certain where the next step leads, but I do know that Jesus waits at the end of the road.

When I am not sure of what to do next, I fall back on the basic truths of being a follower of Christ. I am to pursue justice, feed the hungry and care for the poor and outcast. What can I do that will further that mission? This question brings clarity of purpose and helps refine our choices. I want to encourage others to give their lives fully to Jesus so that together we might impact the world and help bring about His kingdom here on earth. Are you struggling for direction or battling how best to use your gifts? Remember that everything you do must glorify God and further His mission. We are His slaves, and if we are sincere in our commitment, we will love every minute of it. Nothing fulfills a life like doing the work of Christ.