REVELATION
SOOO, if you have been reading my blog for awhile you remember when I first started leading worship and I felt that pull back to my "comfort zone", where life was easier and didn't ask so much...right? Well, I really had some insight into what that was and I thought I would share with you. Free of charge! JK! :)
(you'll be billed later.)
I have been reading about "counting the cost" to live the fullness of the Christian life. We know that the gift of salvation is free, just for the asking. Rev 21:6-7 tells us that "To him who is thirsty, the Lord will give without cost a drink from the spring of the water of life"...but then it goes on to say "But he who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son." In Darlene Zschech's book, Extravagent Worship, she talks about that verse and how so often in the church we focus on how God's living water is a free gift to quench our inner thirst, but we often stop at explaining that there is great cost involved to inherit the full promises of God. The church is full of many wonderful people who have accepted the free gift of salvation, and will enjoy the eternal benefits and it pretty much stops there for them. I was one of those people for a very long time.
But more recently in my life I have hungered for more, I want to live my life not for myself, but to see the kingdom of God advanced on this earth. As many of you already know from personal expereince, this is not super easy :). It will cost you. What will it cost you? Everything. Your will, your rights, your attitudes, your time, your energy and so on. But, I have come to a place in my life where I want the fullness of God more than anything else. Nothing appeals to me like my inheritance in Jesus. Isn't it great though that God doesn't force that on us? That He lets us make that choice for ourselves? Awesome. We have a God who wants us to choose Him, He created us so we could have fellowship with Him by choice because we love Him, and not because He forces us to.
Darlene says in her book, "I want to be a valuable leader in the house of God, therefore I must be prepared to count the cost in order to become that person." So, my revelation is simply that what I was facing in my own struggle was the question..."Will you pay the price to live your inheritance?"
I want to do whatever it takes to see His kingdom advance. I wrote on a sticky note that I put on my computer my new life motto :)..."I gave up my rights, this life is not mine to live."
That is not an easy Christianity to sell, but it is the only one I want. I saw it kinda like this..I saw myself running a marathon, and I was weary and I was sweatin' and it was hard! And I saw these people sitting on the sidelines, comfortable, smiling, eating snacks and cheering me on. And I thought to myself, I want to go sit down over there with those people and be "comfortable" and have it "easy" again. The sidelines for me represented my "comfort zone". But, the prize awaits me at the finish line. Just like in real life, there are way more benefits to running the race yourself, than just watching someone else do it. For me running the race is living a life that is surrendered to the cause of Christ, where my time is not my own, where I am committed to following Christ and seeing His kingdom advance regardless of the cost." This is a decision I have to make daily. I think that is why Paul says in the bible "I die daily".
To sum it all up, my revelation was this.....
We have a lot of "freedoms" as Christians, that many enjoy. But, to be a valuable leader in the kingdom of God is costly. You must be willing to pay the price to walk in the fullness of your inheritance.
Recently on a Saturday night I had an opportunity to go out and have fun and be out late (nothing crazy, just good clean fun!) :o). But, I was leading worship the next morning and I knew I had to prepare my heart and mind, spend some time with God and in His word, and get to bed early. I got a little annoyed, I thought "But, I just wanna go have fun and then sleep in and not worry about it." I was quickly reminded of my motto "I gave up my rights, this life is not mine to live." I realized this is not MY Saturday night, it's not MY Sunday morning..and I surrendered to the call on my life.
Now, clearly being a worship leader isn't everyone's call. Yours may be to homeschool all your children, or it may be to go on the mission field, or it may be to work for a certain company and live the Christian life as a light to the world. It may be to make millions and finance the kingdom of God.. I keep trying to get this one :o). Whatever it is, I hope this post encourages you and I hope you count the cost and are commited to pay whatever it takes to live your beautiful inhertitance in Christ.
If you do not know Christ, my prayer is that you would choose to have a relationship with Him and discover the purpose for which you were created.
Blessings, Jess