Brennan manning observes; “THE ENTIRE PROCESS (OF SELF-DEVELOPMENT) CAN BE VERY EXCITING AND ENTERTAING. BUT THE PROBLEM IS THERE’S NO END TO IT. THE FANTASY IS THAT IF ONE HEADS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND JUST WORKS HARD ENOUGH TO LEARN NEW THINGS AND GROWS ENOUGH AND GETS ACTUALIZED, ONE WILL BE THERE. NONE OF US IS QUITE CERTAIN EXACTLY WHERE THERE IS, BUT IT OBVIOUSLY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH RESTING.”
Isn’t it so easy to become disillusioned with life; religion, relationships, church, and God? There is something within each of us that notifies us that we have not arrived yet and yet we strive as little “Martha’s” to work hard to achieve whatever it is we think we are suppose to achieve only to learn that we have not achieved it at all!
What is the answer then? Do we quit striving to fulfill the inward desire to look like “Abba (Daddy) God”? No! I believe the answer is simply to do as the Apostle John teaches; do the next thing in love. John announces Christ deity with His opening declaration of his Gospel, “In the beginning was the Word”. When we recognize that Christ lives in us, it becomes increasingly easy to allow Christ to live through us.
The world won’t know you are Christian by how many times a week you go to church or by how many Scripture verses you memorize. They won’t know you are “Christian” by whether or not you are “born-again’, baptized or Spirit-filled. They could care less whether you cut your hair, avoid R-Rated Movies or listen to Rock n Roll. I hate to tell you Preachers, but the world isn’t impressed by your plastic smiles, your college degrees or how well you can preach; they don’t even care if you preach; but they will know we are Christians by our LOVE.
Who is it that takes the hand of the dirty homeless man and sees in him the business man he was meant to be? Who is it that kisses the cheek of the promiscuous AIDS infected girl and looks into her eyes to tell her she’s virginal princess in the eyes of her Eternal Father? Who is it that gives away his bill money to pay the bills of another, (perhaps reckless) young couple? Who is it that cares for the widows, feeds the orphans and believes that basic human needs are more important than a glistening steeple, polished church van or new stained-glass windows? I’ll tell you who; the Christian; the man or woman who has looked into the face of love, been touched by the hands of love and has been carried by the arms of love; not when they had “made it”, but as they stumbled along still hurt and broken.
Do you know where to find mercy? You find mercy at the feet of those who have received mercy. Whether or not your lips have never touched alcohol or cigarettes or the lips of a loose woman do not matter nearly as much as whether you have ever really touched the heart of God and allowed Him to touch the lives others do not want to touch. True faith is NOT about religion, true faith is about RELATIONSHIP; with God and with others. Christianity does not begin with us - it begins with Christ. It begins and is and is nothing if it is not love. Amen!
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