Vision: To be disciples and to teach others to do likewise
Mission: "Why do you call me Lord, Lord and not do what I tell you to do?"
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Lightning Strikes
I have been thinking a lot recently about the concept of the "Lightning Strike" revelation. There is this idea that there will be an exact moment where God is going to cast His complete vision, and His complete wisdom on us. Then in the matter of a nanosecond we are going to assimilate this knowledge, and in this exact moment, in this nanosecond, we will be completely healed, changed, and remade. Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves to be change and remade in the moment?
I believe that true change, healing, and vision are possible and are very real. However, I do not believe that true change of character comes from one "AHA!" moment. Instead, that change happens over time, it is a process. It comes after days, years, even decades of walking next to Jesus himself. Of letting him love you, teach you, and yes even rebuke you. I believe this is where true internal transformation happen.
In chapter 6 of "The Great Omission" Dallas Willard writes, "....I can tell you that the transformation of character comes through learning how to act in concert with Jesus Christ. Character is formed through action, and it is transformed through action, including carefully planned and grace-sustained disciplines. To enter the path of obedience to Jesus Christ-intending to obey him and intending to learn whatever I have to learn in order to obey him-is the true path of spiritual formation or transformation."
Or if you prefer a more narrative bend, take a look at Peter's story. Peter was avid in his love for Jesus, but was constantly making poor choices. He lopped off ears, sinks in the water, doubts the power of Jesus, and even denies that he knew Jesus in the hour of crisis. Yet, Jesus still finds a place for him in the end, and is able to use him. Jesus never dismisses Peter, or tells Peter that he just won't ever get it.
Jesus loves Peter even in his faults and never gave up on him, even after Peter denied the Christ.
Jesus teaches Peter important lessons on how to interact with world, how to love your neighbor, and how to love your enemy.
Jesus even rebukes Peter when necessary telling him, "Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Yes, a rebuke can be gentle. :) )
Through this story, through this process of intimate relationship with Jesus did Peter see the deep change and transformation on his soul.
So, if you are at a point in your life where you are frustrated because you just don't seem to "get it". If you lay awake at night or you are so filled with anxiety because you wonder if you ever going to "get it right". If you seem to be making the same mistakes over and over and over again, and you get mad at yourself and think that you are never going to get it right. Take heart because Jesus is there and the process is working.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12
I believe that true change, healing, and vision are possible and are very real. However, I do not believe that true change of character comes from one "AHA!" moment. Instead, that change happens over time, it is a process. It comes after days, years, even decades of walking next to Jesus himself. Of letting him love you, teach you, and yes even rebuke you. I believe this is where true internal transformation happen.
In chapter 6 of "The Great Omission" Dallas Willard writes, "....I can tell you that the transformation of character comes through learning how to act in concert with Jesus Christ. Character is formed through action, and it is transformed through action, including carefully planned and grace-sustained disciplines. To enter the path of obedience to Jesus Christ-intending to obey him and intending to learn whatever I have to learn in order to obey him-is the true path of spiritual formation or transformation."
Or if you prefer a more narrative bend, take a look at Peter's story. Peter was avid in his love for Jesus, but was constantly making poor choices. He lopped off ears, sinks in the water, doubts the power of Jesus, and even denies that he knew Jesus in the hour of crisis. Yet, Jesus still finds a place for him in the end, and is able to use him. Jesus never dismisses Peter, or tells Peter that he just won't ever get it.
Jesus loves Peter even in his faults and never gave up on him, even after Peter denied the Christ.
Jesus teaches Peter important lessons on how to interact with world, how to love your neighbor, and how to love your enemy.
Jesus even rebukes Peter when necessary telling him, "Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Yes, a rebuke can be gentle. :) )
Through this story, through this process of intimate relationship with Jesus did Peter see the deep change and transformation on his soul.
So, if you are at a point in your life where you are frustrated because you just don't seem to "get it". If you lay awake at night or you are so filled with anxiety because you wonder if you ever going to "get it right". If you seem to be making the same mistakes over and over and over again, and you get mad at yourself and think that you are never going to get it right. Take heart because Jesus is there and the process is working.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12
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