The intensity of it all
Regularly folks ask me, “Everything good?” and regularly I answer, “Everything? Big word.” I know they usually aren’t speaking literally…but I am. I don’t expect “everything” to be good until the King comes with His Kingdom and “with righteousness judges the poor and decides with equity for the meek of the earth…and with the breath of His lips He slays the wicked…and the wolf shall dwell with the lamb…and the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord…” [Isaiah 11:1-9] In the meanwhile, we’ve got war and we’ve got mess. Is there any joy? Is “anything” going right enough that we can say “it is good”? Of course! God is constantly giving us good and perfect gifts [like our families and friends and daily bread and the Tigers in first place]…and constantly answering prayer [like for forgiveness and strength and wisdom and safety]…and constantly giving victory in various battles – so Paul can realistically call us to “Rejoice always. Again, I’m telling you ‘REJOICE’!” [Philippians 4:3]
But the tenor of our lives here, on this side of eternity, still seems to be that of a sojourner that is always traveling, never home…a warrior that faces constant onslaught from an enemy that wants to kill us and never sleeps…a redeemed human being whose body is the temple of God but who nevertheless many days feels trapped in a tomb of rotting flesh as we fight illness and self and sin…a son or daughter that knows they are loved by a Heavenly Father but longs to be held ever closer – even physically touched and hugged and kissed – and LONGS to hear His voice more loudly and clearly calling us His Beloved.
It ain’t no joke. And it is incredibly intense.
So, how do we survive? In fact, how do we overcome? Of course – the truth and the promise that we can never be separated from the love of our God in Jesus Christ our Lord. [Romans 8:31-38] Of course. But in terms of flesh and bones and touch and words spoken to our face – how do we survive? How do we overcome? Eugene Peterson paraphrases Paul:
“The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance. You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this.”
I think we tend to take Paul’s words as optional. Like, “Ain’t Paul cute? Ain’t that a nice little picture of how the community of Jesus’ followers might function if they ever get around to it?” But I think he is dead serious. He’s not talking fluff. He’s trying to tell us how to be a “band of brothers and sisters” who have each other’s back in the battle until the last shot is fired. I think he’s saying – “If you follow Jesus, do your part to be present to your warrior brothers and sisters around you – because if you don’t – THE INTENSITY WILL CRUSH THEM. But if we each reach out and do our thing with those we see who need us – everyone survives, everyone flourishes…the entire body of Christ wins. So, know this: everyone is needed. Everyone counts. Everyone’s gift, everyone’s personality, everyone’s touch. EVERYONE, GET IN THE GAME!! We cannot survive, we cannot overcome…without you.”
Last night at the end of our men’s group, we decided to pick one of the brothers and speak words of affirmation to him. It was amazing to watch this man’s face and heart light up and grow and even heal right in front of us, in my living room…simply because some brothers spoke some affirming truth about his character, his heart, his love, his journey, his growth as a follower of Jesus and as a man. As he walked out the door last night, the affirmed brother said to me, “I didn’t know that kind of thing, that kind of feeling, that kind of encouragement existed. It was my first time. Thanks.”
It is incredibly intense out there. Ask the Father to show you, today, who might need YOU. And get about whatever He calls you to do, with them, for them in Jesus’ name.
“Living a full and overflowing life does not rest in bodily health, in circumstances, nor even in seeing God’s work succeed, but in the perfect understanding of God, and in the same fellowship and oneness with Him that Jesus Himself enjoyed. But the first thing that will hinder this joy is the subtle irritability caused by giving too much thought to our circumstances. Jesus said, “. . . the cares of this world, . . . choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). And before we even realize what has happened, we are caught up in our cares. All that God has done for us is merely the threshold— He wants us to come to the place where we will be His witnesses and proclaim who Jesus is.
Have the right relationship with God, finding your joy there, and out of you “will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). Be a fountain through which Jesus can pour His “living water.” Stop being hypocritical and proud, aware only of yourself, and live “your life . . . hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). A person who has the right relationship with God lives a life as natural as breathing wherever he goes. The lives that have been the greatest blessing to you are the lives of those people who themselves were unaware of having been a blessing.” Oswald Chambers
When I focus on my problems – the “cares of this world” – my eyes are off of Jesus and I am ineffective. When we keep our eyes on Jesus He uses us even in the middle of our mess – His living water can flow through us, blessing others. I am so blessed by my brothers and sisters at Hope – I have been so uplifted by the love and caring – feeling Christ’s arms around me in the hugs of His Body…..what a blessing! When we have that blessing, that affirmation, it makes us better equipped to turn around and give that blessing to others – to allow that living water to keep on flowing.
Without…a…doubt, Kathy. Without a doubt…
It is incredibly intense and overwhelming….at times I let all of it swallow up my joy where I really can’t reply “good” when asked how things are going.
Words of affirmation are incredibly powerful. I received an email from someone in my group a few weeks ago and it really lifted me up when I was struggling. I like the idea Kevin….I think we should do it in the other Men’s Group.
Marc, tell Brian Koehn! He’s the one that gave the idea to me!! BTW, I love you and am so proud of you…and I speak that from my heart.