For our citizenship is in heaven...
This week's message brought to me the question: What informs my life? Does my life reflect the values, goals, priorities, longings and desires of the Gospel-polis? Do I know my primary citizenship as a faithful citizen of my true home?
DJ says that the evidence for living IN the Gospel-polis is that we treat one another differently. As I reflect on this past week I see a lot of clutter and a lot of living in the polis of Ben. DJ finishes the sermon through repeating this statement: If the future is dominated by the coming again of Jesus, there's little room left on the screen for projecting our anxieties and fantasies. It takes the clutter out of our lives!!! However uncomfortable I think the clutter that has been occupying my mind clearly reflects that I am not intentionally inviting Christ in, nor am fully seeking to be found in Christ, nor am I partaking in his paradoxically overwhelmingly filling self-emptying love. I think back to the end of each summer and asking why does life not feel the same away from houseboats... because I slowly succumb to the pressures and I take my eyes off the cross as I reject stooping lower to give of myself in serving.
Lord, please don't let us become enemies of the Cross of Christ!! Give us your heart and mind to weep for those who slowly succumb to the pressures upon them, even as you give us the utmost clarity to not fool ourselves!!
How scary it is that I can become an enemy of the cross of Christ. How scary it is that I think I can find a LIFE BEYOND CHRIST. I would be the worst liar if I claimed that I thought I could make it without Christ. Oh how many times have I come to a place where I lived without a RADICAL DEPENDENCE on Christ.
Lord, let us not forget where we live... let us not lose sight of our true home.
DJ (or rather, Jesus through DJ) continues to bring me to a place of greater understanding that I have forgotten where home is when I no longer eagerly wait for Jesus. Do I have the trust to even wait 10 days? When we do focus, with every fiber of our being (what a calling!), on Christ, we cannot help but to super-charge every moment with the hope that flows from Him.
Lord. Lead us to the cross, to the place where Jesus was crucified for me. Lead me to that place even as I struggle, kicking and screaming, with all my being that still clings on the polis that is not of Christ. Lead me to the cross, break me down to my knees and force my face to look upon your eyes, mixed with passion, justice, and love and burning with pure fire. Even as I try to shut my eyes, Lord, bring my to the cross that I may blindly stumble upon that wooden splinter-filled hope of true life. Lord help us live our lives worthy of the high calling of being faithful citizens of our true home.
Ben, I appreciate how you pointed out how foolish it is to succumb to the pressure when you said "I think I can find a LIFE BEYOND CHRIST." It is either this, or RADICAL DEPENDENCE on Jesus.
ReplyDelete"How scary is it that I think I can find a life beyond Christ." Thanks for putting words to my own thoughts Ben. That we can not just think, but even dare to define something as more than Christ with our actions. How scary is it that sometimes we define ourself as such. So grateful for your words and humble prayers Ben! I'm praying there with you!
ReplyDeleteGreat reflection, Ben! Thank you for your honesty and humility as you processed this week's sermon. I agree, with Paulina's comment that you put into words my own thoughts! I can't help but think that your desire, earnestness, want, and cry to be brought to the cross pleases the Lord!
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