By Pastor Jon
This week is flowing with process and intention, which began with Sunday’s message, and followed through into Monday’s reflection.
No way?!
I will continue with a short quotation out of the latter portions of Volume One of the Philosophy. Well, at least in its present form, as final editing may tinker some. But for now, I simply inform and introduce, which is now done. God willing, you will be able to read the following words in their larger context, very soon, when this-planned-for-title is finally published. We are in that process.
Until, you can read this quoted portion below on the subject of “Intentional Christianity”.
I regularly recount words I read in my early twenties from Leonard Ravenhill, which I will likely repeat, “It is not desire that determines your destiny, but discipline.” Well, how boring.
You know what is even more so?
Going through life affirming that same happy sentiment, but never practicing what we preach, and therefore, never arriving into a fuller measure of Flourishing. This is no neutral place. The more we talk a good game, but never follow through, the more we have that deep sense inside the pit of our stomach, we can never follow through.
This can move into frustration, which can lead to futility.
Tragically, some of the younger sorts reading will likely fade into the grey of middle-age, because in the present zeal of energy, you can fool yourself into thinking this will be enough. When the assault of other priorities begins to take over, you easily get stuck, and then lost.
Once this future life betrays, your new cultural context will easily surmount your warm-faded-youth, and you may settle for a cheap replica-of-a-life, totally undevoted to the service of God.
Unless. Unless. Unless you begin an intentional lifetime process that reflects the high calling and priority of God into your life.
What could this look like?
You can turn to 1 Corinthians, chapter 9, and verses 24-27, where Paul states: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
Work. Another this-one-thing type of commitment. In the Gospel. Because Jesus set the definition. Unto God. For us!
I would like to describe this movement as “Intentional Christianity”.
For the Fame of His Name