New Destiny in Christ

A newborn grows beyond her/his initial self-centeredness.

At first life revolved around our firstborn. When she was hungry or thirsty, tired or sick, she demanded attention. She was the center of her universe. Now she has grown and matured into a very giving, caring wife and mother, who is no longer centered on herself. She thinks of God and others first.

 

The Bible emphasizes “God-centered-ness” and “other-person centered-ness” from the get-go. God is otherly focused and calls us to the same. This prepares for humility (accurately seeing ourselves). Humility provides the most fertile soil for growth. The Thessalonian believers were less than three-weeks old in Christ. They had already passed on what God had imparted to them, passing it along naturally to the surrounding regions (1 Thess. 1:7-8). Don’t wait for a “convenient time” to discover the joy of intentionally passing along this life “in Christ.” Faith is spelled R-I-S-K so risk-take (which means we will mistake-make). God has an enormous heart of generosity and compassion. Who do you know who needs God’s compassionate touch through you?

Jesus also takes His disciples aside to give them a seminal teaching on leadership (which at the core is influence). I call it “Jesus’ 20/20 Vision on Leadership” (Matthew 20:20-28). Two of His disciples falsely believed “position = leadership.” Jesus refuted that premise, correcting them in three ways. True leadership/influence includes sacrifice (22), flows from sovereignty (the Father chooses, 23), and manifests itself in service for the highest and best in others (25-28). Yes, societal thinking is indignant when we lift up serving (24) as Jesus models (28).

In Luke 6:27-37, Jesus talks to His disciples about responding to those who attack us by giving mercy and forgiveness without judging or condemning. Then He gives them the open secret to abundance. Freely give away the life of Christ in us without expecting anything in return (Luke 6:38). When we give to others the small amount of love and forgiveness, mercy and grace, we feel at the moment, our “thimble-full” returns to us as a “running-over-thimble,” or a “teaspoon.”

 

Give the “teaspoon” of love away and it becomes a cup, and ultimately an overflowing river of abundance within as we freely give away the life of Christ (John 7:37-39). The open secret is: “we give to get to give some more…,” spilling our life out towards others. We are never more fully human than when we give to those in need without expectations. God is a Giver at heart (John 3:16). And giving and serving is its own reward.

“Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours”
(C.S. Lewis in “Mere Christianity”).

This is Reflection #15 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com