Chapter 3 quickly launches us into Jesus' adult life, starting with the prophet John the Baptizer sent to proclaim the news,
...change your life. God's kingdom is here. (3:2)
It's your life that must change, not your skin! (3:8)
What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? (3:9)
I'm baptizing you here in this river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama ... will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. (3:11)
I love this promise of a changed life. I love the imagery of a green and blossoming life and a fire within. But after living as a Christian for 37 years and being involved with multiple ministries at various levels of leadership, I can say that I have only known a handful of people that I believe are truly living this new life in Christ. In the past few years, I've only begun to experience what this new life is in me.
"I filled John the Baptist from birth with My Spirit [Luke 1:15]. I allowed no risk of miscommunication. The message I gave him to say was too important. My people were blinded by their self-centered understanding of what should come next in the story. They thought I should send the Messiah to bless them. John knew the Messiah would come to change them, to restore their souls before I restored their blessings." (66LL)
That has been my blindness - self-centered seeking of blessings that I believed were my right as a Christ-follower. Using God to make my life work. Depending on blessings for my joy. Searching for the right strategy or weekly planner to manage life better. Rearranging my ministry and social obligations to increase my support network, fill my tank and lessen the drain. Refining my approaches to Bible study, budgeting, homemaking, carpooling, eating, and parenting to recover the life I believe God wants me to have. These are not a changed life, changes from the inside out. These are not kingdom life.
"It's the determination to find a way that will make this life work coupled with the belief that such a way exists. It must. How could it be otherwise in a world created and controlled by a loving God?" (Crabb, The Pressure's Off)
If this isn't it, then what is this changed life that Christ is calling us to? I'm only beginning to understand and my hope is that we'll encourage one another to seek this new way and to walk away from the old. Here are words from Crabb that can help us along the way,
"New Life begins at the Cross. It's here you realize how arrogant you are. You don't welcome trials. You've lived for no greater purpose than to avoid them or reverse them if they come. Your ambition has risen no higher than a life that works pretty well. Perhaps you've disguised your narcissism by dressing it up in Christian clothing. Find fulfillment in ministry. Clean up your life. Overcome your ________ addiction. Live by the Book. But now you see that none of it had God at the center. God's glory has mattered little to you. A quality life is what you're after. And Christianity, or the Christian culture, provides you with the meaning, the sense of community, and the respect you desire. The [New Way] begins with brokenness. It hurts. The...Old Way... [is] much more seeker friendly." (Crabb, The Pressure's Off)
What are your thoughts? Anyone else wondering if we've missed the changed life that John was proclaiming?
7 comments:
I agree, Staci. I missed the changed life for so long.
For the past three or four years, I've felt like God is dismantling me, causing me to see and experience Him in a new way. He's given me a better understanding of my deep-rooted sin which has led to deeper awe and gratitude for what He's done for me through the Cross. Through His Word, He's given me eyes to see my sin and brokenness, which i tried to hide or improve or ignore. He's also given me the heart to recognize my lack of love for others. I used to write it off as "that's just how God made me." Nice, huh?
I see my circumstances differently now, not as Gods failure to come through for me, but as Hsi grace to grow me in ways I wouldn't if I carefully managed my life. Yes, life hurts more, but it's freeing to live in reality, knowing that God is working in me.
This two-year adoption journey has been a major part of God's sanctification process for me. Seriously, it's by far the hardest thing I've ever gone through. Heart-wrenching. And there's no end in sight. Even so, God's given me His perspective, gratefully. It's such a picture to me of all that He went through to get me into His family. Regardless of our outcome, I will never regret our obedience to His call or the lessons He's taught me through this experience.
(Remind me that I said that...our six-month deadline is up on Monday. Not sure if it's really the end of the road for us or not. Harry is planning to call Rwanda today to get more information. We'd appreciate your prayers.)
>POW!< Right in the Kisser.
The Changed Life is what I long for, what I need. I just reflected on my resolutions for 2012 and your blog today was a deeper exploration of what I long for. Thanks Staci.
Powerful and painful.
I am with you on the struggle and change. But, where does God's grace come in? How do I prevent myself from trying so hard once again on my own to become Christ centered each day? God change me from the inside out. I know I feel Your gentle voice for me to be more of a "light of Christ's love" to my husband. I often disregard him and take him for granted. I was very much convicted on this during the holidays and felt great freedom and love once I realized and confessed this. This recognition and love spilled out of me to my family. It was wonderful. But, now I'm back in the routine of things and yesterday I was my old self again. Was I not really changed but just experiencing days without all the normal obligations of wife and mom? God please help me! I am so different from my husband but I believe You brought us together. Help me and change me.
Cici, I will be praying for you. I have been thinking about this deadline as 2012 arrived. Thank you for sharing this journey with us.
Stacy, I really loved what you shared today. My heart is there too. I'm about to go back and read it again. :)
Man, this one hit home.
I often pride myself on being a self-sufficient 30 something single woman. That's where God has me right now...single...and honestly, I'm pretty dang good at. Man, even typing that makes my stomach roll just a bit. Because my "skin" is what I tend to focus on, because it's what others see. Not my life. Often times I believe I've understood God's plan...but maybe what I'm really understanding is my self-centeredness.
Just had a hard conversation with a dear friend who pointed out that my "skin focus" has a tendency to communicate lack of care...painful to hear.
Lord, please, change my LIFE not my SKIN. Thank you for truth in love.
Thanks, Lisa and Julie, for sharing what God's doing in you. It's hard to see yourself as you are, rather than as you want to be, isn't it? I struggle with self-centeredness as well. Motherhood has shown me that in spades!
But I keep reminding myself that reality is my friend. it's so much better to be wrestling with the truth and asking God to change me. He will, but I know that change comes slowly. Transformation is usually painful.
Good for you for wrestling with God and allowing Him into your brokenness. There's hope in that space. Even as I struggle with my sin patterns, God continues to show me His love and mercy. His grace never ends, and I'm understanding that in deeper ways as I bring all my junk to Him.
So happy to be in community with y'all! And I like knowing how to pray for you. Looking forward to this year together.
I'm very happy to be a part of this group this year. I'm just going to post my thoughts (things I noticed, really, or questions that were brought up in my mind) before I read your post for today. I still need to get my hands on a Message version!
1) The Pharisees and Sadducees were coming 'to be baptized' but John still rebuked them. Why? Is it possible to come toGod in wrong ways? Do I?
2) John chastised them to bear fruit in keeping with repentance. Maybe their repentance was words only? A show? In what ways are my 'good works' just a show?
3) How does Jesus baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire? Was he speaking specifically of Pentecost? Or is the fire the same as in the next verse which burns up all the chaff...at judgement?
4) WHY did Jesus need to be baptized by John? He had no sin to confess or repent of...so how was it 'fitting to fulfill all righteousness' for him to be baptized?
Okay, just read the post. Oh yeah, I've been longing for that life! Some times, I read the words about Jesus' Spirit overflowing in our lives and it all sounds so opposite of my experience! when, oh when is that going to happen? When does the abundant life start feeling abundant? I'm not talking about possessions or even a rich network of friends but just the day to day walking and being with Jesus. I often feel like I've missed something...a practical how-to of sorts...of how to go about living the God-life.
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