Living in Response to God...
Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 4:21PM 
Greetings, Dear Friends!
And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So leave a comment, share a story or insight, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend!
As most of you know, I have a new radio show, Live the Promise with Susie Larson. The program airs every Saturday morning from noon to 1:00 CST. And guess what? We are going live on weekdays too, starting Monday, September 20th (from 2:30-3:00 CST). Tell your friends and listen in! I'll be doing giveaways on the air every week.
I have a great line up next week! Dr. Jack Hayford, Gary Thomas, and Leigh Ann Tuohy (Blindside) are some of my guests. Be sure to tune in.
And, a quick note about this week's show! My guest this week is my friend and fellow author Grace Fox. We'll be talking about her book, "Moving From Fear to Freedom." Far too often we are bullied by our fears! But we will never experience all God has for us unless we are willing to put those fears under our feet. This was a powerful show. Be sure to listen in on KTIS AM 900, or listen online at: www.faith900.com
Now on to my topic...
After taking a brisk walk with my daughter-in-law tonight, I sat down to write this week's blog. I had some ideas about what to write, but then my son Luke called and I spent the next hour on the phone with him. And what a rich time it was!
Luke struggles with some chronic fatigue. He doesn't sleep well at night (I struggle at times with sleeplessness, so I know what a drain this battle can be). And yet, he loves Jesus and he loves his wife. He rises every morning and works two jobs (bank teller on weekdays, worship pastor on weekends). And right now, amidst all he is carrying, he is pressing in to know God more. I absolutely love his heart and am so very proud of him. :)
I'm going to share one of the many observations he shared with me tonight.
You remember the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector, recorded in Luke 19, right? He was a rich little man who swindled his neighbors by taking more 'taxes' than were due. When Jesus called him from his perch, he became a different man altogether.
Referring to Zacchaeus, Luke said, "I've thought, and thought about this story. And I suppose I could give up our apartment, and give away my possessions, and go empty handed because it seems like the right thing to do to follow Christ. But when I looked deeper into this story, I realized that 'I' am not the point here, nor is my 'doing' the point. The whole essence of this story is that whatever He calls me to give or give up, I'll do it. Why? Because Jesus is worth it. Whatever He asks of us is small in comparison to what we gain in Him. When the focus is on our obligation, we somehow miss the living relationship that Jesus wants with us. But when our focus shifts to all that Christ is, and how worth it He is, we can give up all to follow Him. And the 'all' looks different on each one of us because we're all at different places in our walks of faith."
Isn't that profound?
Right away I thought of that passage from 1 Corinthians 13 that says, "If I give away all I have to the poor and throw my body into the flames...but have not love, I am nothing." Again, one could read this with the perspective that this is yet another 'should do' or 'ought to' that we had better be applying to our lives - but then we're left with the idea that it's all up to us. And yet, the Bible says that apart from Christ, we-can-do-nothing.
Ephesians 3:19 compels us to 'know this love (His Love) THAT WE MAY BE FILLED with the fullness of God.' When we are filled up with God's love, we spill it out to the world in need. We respond to God's love by giving more of ourselves back to Him.
Love called Zacchaeus down from that tree. Love compelled him to do a 180, and turn his life around. His choices were in response to Christ's love for him, not in reaction to what he thought might be the right thing to do at the moment.
How does our faith-walk become so rote, so boring, and so life-less? It's from saying yes out of obligation when we should have said no because Jesus was not calling us at that particular moment. It's from growing apathetic in our pursuit of God because of our pursuit of things has left us bored. If we dared to press in and to wait on God, and if we were quiet and still long enough to listen for His voice, we would surely hear Him call us up, call us out, and ask us for special gifts that only we can give. And our response to Him would be the most super-natural thing in the world.
Jesus doesn't want our obligatory efforts, He wants our hearts, our minds, our souls, and our talents. He wants everything from us, but not because we ought to, but because we get to. And you know what? It'll be our honor because we will know intimately, the One who calls us; we will know His love; and with everything in us, we will know that no gift we can bring is too much, because He is worth it.
Need a fresh touch from the Lord?
With all your heart, ask Him, 'Draw me, Lord! Awaken my heart! Increase my thirst! Stir up my faith! I want more of You in my life! I can do nothing apart from You! My soul waits upon the Lord. In His Word I do hope!'
~Until next week...
Reader Comments (17)
praying for you this week!
May you and your son have more restful nights. Peace and love to you.
Recently our church kitchen needed a good cleaning. The request was made to the "same old" bunch and they all felt it was not for them to do! (They are all mature believers) and it turned out that a group of students needed a place to serve for a class requirement. The students had a great time, they got to get their hands dirty, see a good result of their labor.
We are truly called to be GOOD stewards of not only our talents, money but also how we spend our time.
Thanks, as always, for the great encouragement!
You are so right. When we shut the door of comparison and we simply embrace the Kingdom assignment before us, that's when we find great joy in the work before us! God never works through 'ought to's' and 'should do's', He compels us to; He loves us right where we stand and daily calls us to climb higher at a pace He knows we can keep. What amazing love. I know you know this love well. Blessings to you, dear!
Thanks so much for your post. I'm so grateful that you have found a way to prioritize things in a way that doesn't burn you up and out. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I love that. Bless you, my friend!
Excellent post. Yes, you are right. It takes as much faith to say NO at times as it does to say YES. We are not the answer to everybody's problems, but by God's grace, we will be the answer to someone's prayers. May we walk by His Spirit, respond to His nudges, and do the work HE has given us to do! Blessings to you!
Thanks for stopping by. May God speak powerfully to you as you ponder the things you've read here...:)
Thanks for your encouraging post! I so agree with you. Far too many Christians are serving out of duty and not out of response. Christ's yoke is easy and His burden is light. Something powerful happens when the over-servers step back and allow themselves some rest time in God's presence, and when the under-servers step up and step out in faith. When they activate their spiritual muscles they come alive as well. Lord, help us to find our place in service to you! Amen. :)
Thanks for stopping by! I echo your prayers and love the part about grace covering us when we need it. Oh, how I need it! Blessings to you~
I can't believe it but the night you posted at 3 am, I was also having a sleepless night. I picked up my phone and notice your post (it was 3:30 am). Yikes. At least we know to pray when we can't sleep, right? Love you, friend!
Bless you! You're welcome! Peace to you~