Are We Reckless?

What holds us back?

As Christians, we have so many passages of scripture that are intended to unleash us to the world and empower us to live recklessly for the sake of His name. Why is it so hard for us to trust that and live that way?

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." - Psalm 23:1-3 (It doesn't end there in this chapter)

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday." - Psalm 37:4-6

The list could go on and on. Paul was so zealous for the sake of Christ and he did it by living his life in reckless abandon for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ. How free he must of have felt?! How empowered by the Spirit he must have been!? Talk about living on the edge! He knew the voice of the Lord and he went and did whatever it said.

We are so good at asking questions. We are extremely talented at analyzing things. We think that wisdom resides in thinking through things; that we can figure out what the Will of God is. Why don't we ask one question, only one question? The trick is we can't lie to ourselves. We can't falsify our response or we miss out and we fail to hear the wisdom in the Psalms.

All we need to ask:
"Is that the voice of the Lord?"
If the answer is "yes," then go. If the answer is "no," then stay.

We are so good at over complicating these things. Let's just trust Him! He's on the throne! He can contend with our misunderstandings and failures (He does it all of the time.). I wonder what a world with Christians who are pursuing Christ like that looks like.

For Whose Namesake?

Have you ever stopped and considered what's in a name?

Psalm 23:3 doesn't read the way it does because God simply wants to make David righteous. There is no doubt that this is part of God's mission to bring his People back to him. However, he does it for his name's sake. There is weight there. There is weight in the way that Jesus relates the reaction of the world to his disciples. There is weight in the life that Paul lived and when I say his name, we know that weight. And I'm not sure we grasp that very easily or very well.

There are many in this country who have taken to making a name for themselves. I am not innocent from this desire or vain ambition. It seems that a growing trend in the world is to make an individual mark on the world by dancing to a different beat or making my life stand for, or represent, something great, something significant. We want to live for our own name's sake. And frankly, I'm sick of seeing the Church try and do the same thing.

The Church has begun to do what it can to make a name for itself, both individually and collectively. We lift up worship leaders, worshippers, churches, and speakers to a level of unhealth that mimics, if not personifies, idolatry. We strive to proclaim the name of _________ church or _______________ (insert your favorite "Christian" artist or speaker). And we have gravely missed the point.

I recently downloaded a new song that we have been singing at my church called "Great I Am" by New Life Worship. We started singing it when its writer, Jared Anderson, came to my church. I love the lyrics of this song because it forces us to proclaim our love for the Name that is truly above all names.

I am committing to live for a Name other than my name.

Geoffrey Cocanower doesn't free sinners.
Geoffrey Cocanower doesn't feed the hungry.
Geoffrey Cocanower doesn't provide strength to the weak.
Geoffrey Cocanower didn't die on the Cross at Cavalry.
Geoffrey Cocanower isn't seated at the right hand of God.

People don't bow at the name of Geoffrey Cocanower.
People won't bow at the name of Geoffrey Cocanower.
Demons don't shudder at the name of Geoffrey Cocanower.
Satan doesn't tremble at the sound of Geoffrey Cocanower.

His name is Jesus.
His name is I Am.
His name moves mountains.
His name sets the captive free.
His name is worthy to be praised.

"For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;" - Psalm 31:3

Life by the Spirit

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

I recently was at a place recently in my life where God shook me up. He bumped me. I came to realize some things about my life and my ministry. At the end of the day, I have come to a place where I want nothing more than for this to be my mantra; my meaning for each day. My daily prayer is becoming the desire to live by the Spirit. I don't know what that looks like or what that means, but I can't go a day longer without making this the focus of my life.