One week from today I got sick. I hate being sick, just like everybody else. The problem with my physical sicknesses is that they tend to leak into my spiritual life. If I'm physically sick, spiritually I tend to be sick. I pretty much layed on the couch for three or four days and did nothing, ignoring God each day. I felt pretty worthless, which in turn made me feel like my life overall was pretty worthless. This isn't very healthy. I then one day after feeling better decided that I've ignored God too long. I said to God, "God, I've been pretty selfish lately, and I know that you probably aren't too happy with me. I've missed you though and I need you now. I'm going to read your word today and I ask that you refresh me even though I pretty much don't deserve it." God answered my prayer, and then some.
I read John 17. If you are unfamiliar with John 17, it consists of Jesus longest recorded prayer that he had before he was arrested to be crucified and taken from his disciples. What I love so much about this prayer is it's theme. Jesus prays for their unity. He prays that they would be one just as Jesus is one with the father. He says this prayer for his disciples and for those who will believe in Jesus through their message. Listen to what he prays in verse 22 and 23...
"I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
Boom shakalaka. Lets repeat that... Jesus prays that we be unified... to be one in Christ. I believe this is the type of unity that Pauls talks about in 1 Corinthians 12 when he says that we are one body. We must care for each other, love each other, help each other... so that the WORLD may know Jesus. Our love for each other in Christ is a testimony to others. It is the Gospel. Where has this gone? What happened along the way to make our lives so independent of each other? If we live apart from each other, then we can't be unified. We don't love. Like in 1 Corinthians 13, without love I am only a resounding gone, I am nothing, and I gain nothing. Sounds like the church today.
So amidst all this unity stuff, and trying to fight past my tears because of how powerfully it spoke to me... I really began to wonder if I had this unity. God answered that too. Throughout the next few days God would place people in my life that edified me and encouraged me telling me how I have impacted their lives... and how that has impacted the lives of others. That meant more to me than any compliment on my personality. It was a compliment that said, because of who God has made you to be, God has used you to show his truth and Jesus to me... I finally get it. That lifted my heart... that made me cry. Thank you God for showing how much you love me.
2 comments:
Hey Ryan, nice post. Don't ever think for once that your life is worthless, that is the devil trying to pull you away from God. As hard as it may be to seek God, that is what you need to do in your low times. He is the only thing that can pull you through it, which you have experienced and you know.
Being a child of God isn't always easy, but you have the power of prayer, the knowledge of the Word and the strength in the body of Christ behind you to help you grow and become more God-like. Don't ever doubt yourself.
Thanks. Those chapters helped!
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