Where the touch of the lover and the soul of the friend begin,
There’s a need to be separate and a need to be one
And in the struggle neither wins
Jackson Browne – Sky Blue and Black
Journal from Saturday, March 3/27:
Yesterday was a good day. The kind of day that is becoming more and more the exception in today’s crazy, busy world. We slept late, spent a few hours fellowshipping and worshipping with the awesome team that God has assembled from Savannah to go and share Christ with the lost and hurting souls of the northeast desert region of Brazil, and had a beautiful time of fellowship (and a yummy dinner too!) with a wonderful family from our church that we had always wanted to know better but hadn’t had the opportunity. The extra rest was right on and the intense fellowshipping with our group and the Minadeo family left us feeling peaceful and close to God.
As we were driving home from fellowshipping with the Minadeo family, were we talking about the good day we had had while listening to a compilation CD I had made us when a song by Jackson Browne came on. Although this is a secular song, the above verse stood out to me, causing us to ponder why many people never make a difference for the Kindgom of God. It’s because they never overcome this struggle between an innate desire to be “me” or “do it my way” as opposed to the unnatural act of completely laying “me” down so that we can be one in Christ. Before we accept Christ as Savior, we spend our lives trying to develop our personality, finding our own identity that is unique and different (or separate) from those around us. It’s what we’re taught and what we do.
However, from the moment we accept Christ as Savior, we are to put “me” aside so that God can be glorified and the life-changing grace, love, hope and power of Jesus can be given through us to all those in spiritual bondage. It’s not easy and is an ongoing process because it requires us to “do it God’s way”, no matter the cost. He tells us to go to Brazil to fulfill the Great Commission, then we go. If He tells us to quit our jobs and plant a church, we do it. If He tells us to start a ministry at the local Juvenile Detention Center, we do it. He tells us to hug on and love on a person that is “unlovable” by the world’s standards because God knows they need just one person to give them some semblance of self-worth, then we do it. It’s hard and we often fail but it’s a requirement if we are to become more like Christ and impact a lost and hurting world. Suddenly, our driving motivation to “do it my way” goes against God’s desire and expectation that we will follow Him and His Son unconditionally.
John 15:5 states this simply but unequivocally – “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Christ is more than our Savior. He is our lover and our friend. When we commit ourselves fully to Him, laying down “me”, then we find ourselves in the center of His peace and joy, walking in His blessings and favour. We begin to reflect His Love and His Light, and we find that people are drawn to us because they see Jesus in us. They see people who used to be just like them but because they were willing to walk away from their love for themselves and the “friendship” they had with this world, God was able change them into a new person, dead to themselves and their old selves but fully alive in Christ, touched by His Grace, His Love and His Peace.
For me, the struggle is fading and I find that I am no longer drawn to the things of this world and doing it my way. The world is no longer my friend. I now seek friendship and intimacy with my heavenly Father and my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the more I do, the more He opens my eyes, my heart and my soul to those that are hurting, sick, in pain and in need of a great Savior to hug on them and love on them. I am finally becoming one with the only One that loves me unconditionally and truly has my best interests at heart.
Are you still struggling with giving yourself completely to God because the world has become your source of friendship and intimacy? Are you finding it hard to lay down the worldly dreams, desires and wants you’ve carried and held onto for so many years? Are they keeping you from being used fully by God to build His Kingdom and touch the broken and lost?
God says the time has come to trust Him with your life. He knows you intimately. He knew you before you were even a thought in your mother’s heart. He has loved you since before this earth even began. He has plans to prosper you and use you to make a difference in people’s lives. But you have to let go. Just let go today. Let Him be your lover and friend. Lay down this world. It has nothing for you anymore as a child of the Risen Lord. It has nothing for you anymore.