Having a Heart in a Sometimes Heartless World
Scripture focus: Do what you’re told so that you’ll have a good life, a life of abundance and bounty, just as God promised, in a land abounding in milk and honey. Deuteronomy 6:3 The Message
“When I wrote Walking with God, one of the things I was hoping to make clear is the difference between being a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ. The follower is actually asking God what he is up to, where he is leading, inviting God into the details of life in order to align with his heart, his will.” (John Eldredge, October 2008 newsletter)
As adults, my children decide whether to believe or follow of their family system of origin. For example – Pete and I exercise just about every day – and our children have watched us do this since the day they were born. All of them believe in the benefits of exercise. They like it that when we help them move, we can lift the heavy stuff. Each has commented on how spry we are in comparison to their friends’ parents. They believe that our commitment to exercise helps us stay fit. But are they followers? Our children could believe without following. They could enjoy the knowledge and benefits of having reasonably fit parents, but choose for themselves the couch potato life.
Our choices reveal whether we’re believers or followers. Our daughter gets up early and goes to aerobics, always takes the stairs (never the elevator), loves kickboxing and relaxes with Pilates. She asks me questions about my latest exercise regime, and we compare notes. Our son goes to the Rose Bowl and runs every day – or hits the beach. He does push-ups and sit-ups every night – just like his dad. When our youngest gets stressed, he hits the treadmill or throws a lacrosse ball against the house. Our children follow us in this area of our life.
“…while we are, on one hand, the children of God, we have not really become the children of God until we are one heart and one mind with him. It helps me to make sense of good people I know who say they believe in God, or even love Jesus, but they don’t really seem to be changing in any noticeable way. Their personalities are pretty much the same as they were ten years ago; their lives look pretty much the same. They have not abandoned God. But they have not really pursued their own transformation, either. They don’t seem to be any closer to loving what he loves, meaning what he means, don’t seem to be seeking the same ends.” (John Eldredge, October 2008 newsletter)
In a family, to the extent that its members hang together – loving the same things, seeking the same ends – there’s a tight connection and bond. Children grow up to be sons and daughters. (We could spend weeks talking about whether or not this is good news or bad – but that’s not the subject for today!) It’s the same in the kingdom of God. If all that I believe is true – that God made me uniquely, he has plans and purposes for my life, he’s equipped me for a special grand epic adventure – and all I do is believe this truth, I may find myself feeling restless, frustrated, and “not quite right.” Believing this to be true, and not experiencing its reality on a daily basis would be horrible.
But when I follow – ahhh, there’s a difference. It’s the feet that march my belief into “being” – becoming the person who indeed, not only believes these things about God and self – but actually lives them. This is when we find ourselves unleashed. It’s the good life. May you march toward your own grand epic adventure today!
Recommended reading: Daniel 3 and Psalm 104 in the morning; 1 Peter 5 and Psalm 105 in the evening
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