#GodisGood

Journey 2013

I finally got a chance to recompile my thoughts, so I'm ready to share...actually share.
I promise you that my writing is always much more cohesive and representative of what I have in my mind, than speaking ever would. I don't hate public speaking, I just get my thoughts out better in writing.

The topic of the second meeting was Changed. Attitudinally and behaviorally - what makes us different, what makes us Christians?
Three verses epitomize what I learned that weekend:
1 John 2:3-6 (shoutout to PBr)
James 4:13-15
2 Corinthians 5:14-15

(In that order)

One of the things that struck me the most, that I was most convicted about, was how we are called to live not for ourselves, but for God. We are Christ's ambassadors, His witnesses, and that last verse, man. And I realized, so often I expect God to fit somewhere in my life. Yes, God is good, he is awesome, omniscient, all powerful, loving, just. But I've expected God to just go along, fix the areas of my life where I had troubles - where I was confused and unsure, where I was lonely, where I was depressed, where I was weary and broken. But man, leave everything else the same because I think I've got my plan for life worked out. College, career, travel, you know maybe a family, raise that family well, retire, be happy. I've been serving two masters - God and the world, but the world is just me. But how foolish is that? In James: we are mists that appear and then vanish. Do I seriously believe that my plan for my life is greater than the one God has for me? That my "kingdom" is greater than His?! Our purpose in life is to glorify Him - through our work, relationships, character, and in everything exemplify Christ. How do we know we are in Him? By obeying His commandments. And what has He called us to do? Love God, love one other, the Great Commission, etc: all these things glorify Him. It's this weird cycle/flow of actions/chain of cause and effect that I can't really draw out at this moment, but do you know what I mean?
I can't expect God to just fit somewhere in my life. If my actions in life were e-mails, I've always had God sort of attached as a file on the side. He's there, but I haven't been putting Him as the Main Subject line, let alone in the body. Where is my focus in life?

So basically, (it's kinda hard to summarize this into one sentence), it's been this idea that I have to recommit myself to Christ. My plans for the future, shouldn't be really, plans for the future. Yes, it's good to set goals and have dreams, but what is the ultimate goal? To serve Christ. To glorify Him. I don't know if I'll get a lucrative job, or if I'll find a spouse or have a family, or if I'll like my career, or if I'll retire nicely. But if I'm going to give that to Him, and focus on serving His kingdom with what I've been given, then I shouldn't have to worry. I've been given the blessing of going to college in Indiana, been given all these people in my life, my roommate, my floor mates. I've sorta been placed in this business world. I'm not in Africa saving lives or in China helping an underground church plant, but I can still service His kingdom here. I can still glorify Him now.

THE END.