Another Easter Sunday has came and passed. We have spent the weekend celebrating the sacrifice of Jesus, and his resurrection that makes our lives possible. For my family, this one was far different than any before, as we celebrated for the first time with my son.
As is common, having a child has changed my perspective quite a bit. A forbidding theme has been lingering in my mind these last few months. I can't help but look at my Christianity and think: "I'm not urgent enough."
Today
I did the dishes
Ate breakfast
Exchanged texts with a friend
Gave feedback on client workouts
Did my workout
And checked my Instagram notifications
All before I opened the Word or said a prayer.
This year, I haven't
donated to the Church
Led any small groups
Asked my friends if they need any prayers
talked about the God and Jesus with any colleagues acquaintances
But I've found time for powerlifting meets, March Madness, and reading old comic books.
It's a matter of priorities. During the Easter service yesterday, our pastor challenged us in a way I haven't heard it phrased before: " Are you measuring yourself vs. the world, or vs. the Word of God?" Morals and Biblical obedience is next to non-existent in our culture, so being "better" than the world at this point is an ever-lowering if not disintegrating bar.
If we truly believe in a risen king, why are we putting other things ahead of Him in our day? What sort of example are we setting by assimilating into the culture that puts God last?
I know I am not alone in noticing, but our lives are becoming more and more urgent in all directions, except with our faith. We have allowed notifications of all kinds to control our immediate attention, drawing us away from the important works of our Christianity.
But urgency itself is not an issue, it's what we determine to be urgent.
If we just put God first, if we make that part of our lives the most urgent matter in our, we would see how the power of Jesus can transform our world. Obedience to God is not about "good enough" or making it part of our week. His sacrifice wasn't "good enough," it was worth everything, but sometimes we treat it like it was just something.
When we commit to giving everything, we are faced with some hard truths about our existence. We are faced with an internal collision - the idea of who we are going helmet-to-helmet with who we should be.
There are two types of change that occur in our lives: Passive and active change. Passive change is what happens when we just allow life to ebb and flow in it's own way, as we meander toward the easiest path for our day. This is the type of change where you look back after several years and ask yourself "what the heck happened?" On the other hand, active change is uncomfortable. It's hard. This is the "collision" type of change between our past and future self. It is the type of change where we feel anxiety, stress, and internal hardship, but look back on later and are thankful for the experience.
You can't have the results you want without active change. And you can't have active change without urgency.
"And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.“
Romans 13:11-12 NIV
In a previous post I wrote about how I am praying for the patience to listen to God's timing and demands. The patience to not force the issues of my heart, but to pay attention to what His will is, and to have the patience with myself to not be discouraged on the days I don't stack up. Somewhat paradoxically, patience and urgency need to coexist in the Christian life.
I hope reading this inspires you to be more intentional with what you make urgent this week; to choose the urgent Christian life instead of the urgent world. I want to put this out into the universe to push myself to take the necessary steps in my own faith. To be more urgent, intentional, and obedient, and to be ready when God calls on me.
I look forward to next Easter, bu as always, I will rejoice in the fact that already He is risen!
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