Doing the Gospel of Christ

When I have the opportunity to sit down and talk with someone about the Lord or all He is doing in my life or all He is teaching me in His word, I tend to get long-winded. I want to give the entire process day-by-day and verse-by-verse. Poor Eric. He listens patiently to my mini-sermons and never complains about the endless details I give him about my journey through a lesson God is teaching me. I love the process. It's rarely an easy lesson, but I love that God is so personal and so real and willing to teach me something in the simplest of circumstances. I just have to listen.

I'm the same when I teach a Sunday School lesson. Instead of the lesson, I want to give the background of months of circumstances and reading that led to that particular lesson. Doing that would be boring to anyone listening, but again, I love the process and marvel at His attention to my life.

I'm going to do something I rarely ..... okay, never ..... do. I want to share with you something I wrote in my journal.

April 2, 2009:

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." Galatians 1:6-7

Father, I shutter when I read these words. Am I guilty of doing such a thing? I pray I stay so close to you, I would never be mistaken to represent another. How does one pervert the gospel of Christ? Something so perfect and strong - that bears life. I cannot even get the questions written on this page before I know the answers. Your gospel is to be lived out as much as it is to be told. It must be present in my actions more than my words and I know I'm failing you in this area.

Specifically with my SS class, help me to be different. Father, my nature is to remove myself of any in-depth relationships. Please help me to see those around me the way you do - accepting each for who they are and for embracing how different we are and being okay with that. The world would be a boring place if everyone acted like me! Help me to trust you as I step out of my comfort zone and try to love others like you want me to. DOING your gospel instead of just TELLING your gospel.

When I write something down, I ask God to ordain things in my life that will continue to teach me about that particular issue.

I'm still in the middle of this one, but I love how He is orchestrating things in my life - through circumstances or conversations or people or books.

Imagine my delight when I ran across this title of a book after writing that verse in my journal.

I bought it not knowing what it was about, but prayed it would be a piece to the puzzle in this lesson from my Father.

It was.

I read the first 2 pages, shut the book and told Eric God was getting ready to change me with this book al though I had no idea how. And, then I prayed I would be accepting of it. Change is never easy, you know. In fact, it hurts most times. Reminds me of this quote:

The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."

Flannery O'Connor

This book is written by Richard Stearns, president of World Vision U.S. He talks about his journey from the CEO of Lenox, Inc. to becoming the president of a non-profit charitable organization that helps the poorest of the world.

It's riveting and probably one of my favorite books of all time. You cannot possibly read these pages and not be changed by the picture of the world around us - and the world right in front of us. How we view each other and treat each other is paramount in telling what we individually do with the Gospel and this gift we have so freely been given.

The main lesson I'm learning right now (I'm sure there will be many more) through this verse and the book is acknowledgement. I often tell my family they don't have to agree with me or like what I say but acknowledging me is respecting me - and vice versa. I'll even jump up and down kicking and screaming (figuratively) if I don't think I'm getting that respect.

God has shown me that acting out His gospel has the same principle. Acknowledging others - those different from me - respecting them by taking notice they are significant and worthy - a child of God just like me. I'm learning that simple gesture makes all the difference in the world when serving Christ. We're cheating ourselves when we look over any part of His creation - His body manifested in the people around us and we're cheating Him when we tear down that body with our words or lack of acknowledgement.

It's tough, but worth the process. I can't wait to learn more.