Hello Friends,
I trust you are each enjoying a restful Sabbath/Saturday/weekend. As the title suggests, this is part two of the series; a series in which we will examine what it means to be a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N.
In quick review, last week focused on the purpose for the series, and an examination of the 'C' letter of the above word. When speaking about Christians we are first and foremost "Christ-Followers". A relationship is important when it comes to becoming a follower of Jesus. How you choose to spend time will impact how deep the relationship goes. This week we will focus on the the letter:
H---
Breath. Whether you realize it or not, breathing makes up a pretty major portion of our lives. In fact, without the ability to breathe we could not live (no, I am not looking to be picked apart by literal minds. You'll get the point soon). But breathing is merely the outward manifestation of something deeper. Yes, the lungs work together with blood and other areas of the body to supply oxygen to our extremities, but the key organ that works ceaselessly for us to breathe would be none-other than the heart. Scripture talks about guarding this most precious of organs, because from it springs the wells of life (Prvbs. 4:23). Not only is this a literal interpretation, but it has spiritual implications. When it comes to being a Christian it means we have undergone surgery to that most important organ of our lives. Not just any surgery. Being a follower of Jesus means we have undergone a heart-transplant.
Think about it. If you didn't have a heart, could you even function? Now take that thought and apply it to your spiritual walk. Could you even function spiritually? I think not. How many of us are actually walking around without our hearts (none of us I hope!)? Whether you realize it or not, when you've become a follower of Jesus, you've given Him permission to remove your old heart, and to replace it with a heart that beats in sync with His. Whether this is an instantaneous event, or it is a life-time process, I really am not sure. In Ezekiel scripture talks about removing the heart of stone and giving us a heart of flesh, but I'm not sure if that means it is immediate (sanctification in our lives certainly appears to be a process, but I'm not sure if I would say sanctification and a heart-transplant are the same thing). In fact, now that I think more about it, they are not the same. [clarification: sanctification and the granting of a new heart are not the same thing] What does the reality of being given a new heart mean in our everyday lives?
One implication is that of loving what God loves. No longer are we driven for merely what gives us pleasure or enjoyment, but for what pleases Jesus. Life is no longer about what makes me feel good, but what makes my Heavenly Father feel good (from what does He derive pleasure). This perspective is so totally counter-cultural that it is literally out of this world (pun intended). The heart is what keeps us going, but what are we going towards? Something that will benefit us, or something that will please the heart of God? Who has control of your heart? Have you tried to wrest back control and sought to prevent the Master from removing that which you hold most dear? Being a follower of Jesus means we are willing to climb onto that surgery table, lay our hands by our sides and say, "Hack away".
My prayer is that I will never say no to the work of the Master in my own life. After all, the heart that beats in me is no longer my own "for I have been bought with a price" (1 Cor. 6:20).
How does one learn more of what God loves? As one spends time with Jesus, you will learn more and more both of what pleases Him, but also what grieves Him. Reading and meditating on scripture is another way of feeling the heart-beat of God. If you listen, God allows one to hear, and if you are seeking, God allows one to see.
May this thought strengthen and encourage each one of you as you seek to follow Jesus, and shed your light as his ambassadors to those around you. Until next time.