The Responsibility of Freedom

We make choices everyday.
Some of the choices are small like

- What am I going to wear today?
- What do I want to eat?
- What door will I use to get into the building?

I imagine that we make those choices with little or no effort and I imagine that we make those choices without stopping to pray and seek God directly for the answer.

Some of the choices we make in life are much bigger like:
- What college will I go to?
- Should I marry my girl/boy friend?
- Should I sell my house and move?
- What church should I attend....

I know that when confronted with large decisions, I often take time to seek out other opinions from family and friends. Most importantly, I pray and seek God's will for the answer and direction to take.

Whether the question is big or small, simple or complex, easy or hard, we are left with the choice. It is up to us to decide how to respond. Yes, God knows what will happen before we do but we also have Free Will to make the decision.

I don't think in any situation I have come across that God has "spoken" directly to me and given me the answer. Its not like the phone rings or I open my e-mail or check my Facebook and have a message from Him. He chooses not to operate like that.

I have the responsibility to make the decision....
to act godly or ungodly
to indulge in the sinful nature or walk way
to love my family or hold gurdges and not forgive

I don't know about you, but I definitely "feel" the responsibility of my freedom.
I owe God my best; ALL the time.
He has left it up to me and has given me the opportunity to choose....

The question that I have been asking myself this week is "How do I honor God with my freedom? What can I do to make sure that He is receiving the Glory for the choices that I am making?"

I am still working on the completeness of the answer but I know it starts with Loving Him. I know that when I submit to His will and choose to "live by the Spirit" that He is Glorified. I think that involves several things...

• a desire to hear what He is saying - thru prayer, thru worship, thru my pastor, thru the people in my life
• a readiness to obey God's Word - not just some of it. not just the parts the like; but ALL of it. A committment to seeking His will thru scripture.
• and a sensitivity to discern between my feelings and thoughts and His promptings.

The other part of this answer lies with serving each other.... to "Love your neighbor as yourself." We all know that is easier said then done. But when I make the decision to love and to serve the people that God loves, He is glorified. It also results in unity of the body of Chirst. United, standing together, we are much stronger and able to defend ourselves against Satan and our sinful nature.

I think that the final part of this answer lies in my committment and determination to speak the Gospel with boldness and clarity. God is glorified when we take the opportunities He gives us to reach out to others with the Good news of Salvation.

When I do these things with my life something great and wonderful happens to me. I have a peace in my heart. I have a peace in my soul and in my life that is from Christ. That peace is the direct result of my God being glorified and honored becuase of my decisions and actions.

"The freedom to do your best means nothing unless you are willing to do your best." — Colin Powell

THE question.....

So, a friend of mine interviewed for an internship last week. He is studying to be a pastor and so before he can "officially" graduate he has to complete an internship with a senior pastor in a church.

Anyways, during the interview, the pastor was telling him a story about a recent event he spoke at at Ferrum College. While there, he asked the students the following question....

"If you could ask God one question, what would you ask?" -- Hmmm..... I wasn't there but I imagine that the questions sounded something like this

• Why did my ________ die?
• If you are a just God, then why does my sweet innocent child suffer every day?
• How do we acheive world peace?
• What job should I have?
• Why am I battling with addicition/depression/eating disorder(you fill in the blank)
• Why do terrible things happen to good people?
• Why can't we find a cure to cancer or a solution to fight terrorism?

The pastor continued to explain that when the students were done asking their question, he responded that the if he were sitting face to face with God, he would want to know only one thing;

What do You want?

WOW! A four word sentence that asks the most important question..... "What, God, do you want from me?"

Ever since Caleb told me this, I can't get it out of my mind.... I keep coming back to it. I keep praying and talking to God about it. That question is so simple and yet so complete....

I am at a point in my relationship with the Lord, where I am trying to live each day and each moment for His glory. I recognize and know that my physical body is only my temporary home and that everything, including my life, is His.

When I die, I want my life to count....not for my glory or my benefit but for the glory and benefit of Chirst. I want to know that God was able to impact the world because of my willingness and obedience and surrender to Him and His plans....

This question has challenged me to think about how I approach ministry... how I approach the church. The answer to this question is not a mystery.... its not locked up in some hidden treasure chest on a deserted island that can never be found.

God desires the salvation of ALL people! He desires EVERYONE to be in a relationship with Him. If that is His desire, if that is His want, then it must become ours too. It must become our passion and our mission as well. That doesn't mean that all men should quit their jobs and go preach or that all we should all pack our bags and head to Africa or China or Trinidad.

It does mean, that sharing Jesus Christ with others is the purpose and the mission of the body of Christ. Nothing short of Him is going to change people's lives! Nothing! If we profess to be Christians, and desire to walk in the will and spirit of God, then sharing the Gospel is necessary!

Our church, our ministry, our families, our lives should be centered around our relationship with Christ and our committment to sharing the Gospel with others and asking God to use us to bring people into relationship with Him. At the end of this life on earth, that's what matters!

What would happen if more Christian leaders and more Churches were focused on that mission? What would happen if more people were asking that question "God, what do you want?" I know that is where I want to be. I know that I want to be in a church that is about reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I am desperate to live a life in need of that Gospel and in desperate desire to show others their need for it too.

through His eyes....

My cousin Katie and her husband Jimmy just had their first baby boy.
They named him Braedon James Hahn.

I haven't met him yet, but I have seen pictures and I have heard the pride and love in the voices of mommy and daddy..

Jimmy has been sending us pictures of the baby about once a week. Each week they have him all dressed up in the cutest little outfits. The first week, the family got a slide show of Braedon. A slideshow that revealed Jim's dreams for his new little guy..... star player for the Nittany Lions! Yup, thats right! Braedon is going to play PSU football in 18 years. I imagine that Katie has some dreams of her own for the new man in her life.... maybe a doctor or a lawyer.

As I talk with them about Braedon, they are already imaging the great things he is going to do for his life. They are planning all the activities that he is going to do and imagining all the success and happiness that he is going to have. They have plans for Braedon and love him so much already even after 2 weeks.

The same is true of each of us too. When we were babies and even kids growing up, our parents always were planning and imagining what we would do with our life.... maybe it was a famous singer, or a pastor, or working with youth, or being a teacher ...... When they looked at us, they saw our potential. They imagined the best. They loved us sooo much and cared about us sooo much they only wanted us to see our dreams come true.

God has dreams and plans for us! He has been planning and imagining and wants only the best for us. If Katie and Jim love Braedon this much after only 2 1/2 weeks imagine how much God loves you! Imagine the plans he has for your life. Try to picture in your mind what he sees when he looks at you. He is your Father and cares and loves for you more then your mom and more then your dad. He loves you and has big plans for you!

The Bible reminds us that God has plans for us.... and not just mediocre plans but plans to prosper and not harm. Plans to give us hope and a future! I am amazed to think that the God of all creation, would care enough about me to have plans for me..... and love me enough to plan a life of prosper and hope.

I am amazed that God, my God, the God of all creation, cares enough about me to not allow me to stay the same. He cares enough to move me from my sin, my failing body and into an everlasting relationship with Him. WOW! Let that sink in for a moment.....

I am His child and He is my Father.

my pursuit.

What am I pursuing in my life?
What is it that drives and motivates me?
What is it that I need?

I have so much in my life.
Too much really.
I have been given so many things...
health, a good job, a family that loves me, friends that challenge me, a beautiful home, education...
I have been given so many things.

I take them for granted. I depend on it....
too much.

I want my life to be consumed with pursuing God....
I want to love and be like Him.
Pursuing the things of God like
righteousness, mercy, grace, humilty, patience, forgiveness

But in a world that is so consumed with wealth and fame
With a society that is so concerned with having the newest or the best
A place where for many God exists only when something wrong happens and they need him
It is so easy to get consumed with me...

I want to live a life that is in desperate need of him every day!
One that shows that need and becomes vulnerable for him always....

Our society is so focused on the easy fix.
Lets patch the hole and keep moving.
I am done patching holes.
I am done looking for the quick fix.
I desire to be completely broken and healed by my Savior.

I desire a relationship that is so real and so complete that my need for him
becomes my pursuit.