God's Bigger Story

So often our reputations - what others think of us - are built on our outward performance - how our families function, how we treat other people, how we serve at church, or how we do our jobs.   And, all of this is important.   But, we realize that there is a bigger story that God is writing through our lives, and He desires for all of our undertakings to be predicated on our love relationship with Himself.   If we are following His principles, if we get the inward focus correct, then it will make a difference in the outward expressions - I like to refer to that as "inside-out living".

1st Corinthians 3 addresses the importance of having our lives centered on Christ, built on His foundation:
11For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.12Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,13each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.14If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.15If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

This Scripture outlines how the progression - a life centered on Christ, growing in Jesus daily, demonstrates that the foundation is strong.   If our actions flow from that relationship, i.e., if we are grounded in Him, then what we produce outwardly will reflect the inward presence of Almighty God.   He wants us to have total reliance on Him, cherishing what is important to Him, and attempting to bring glory to Him in all that we do.

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Peter writes to each of us in 2nd Peter chapter 1 about the lasting virtues, rooted in Christ, that can determine the degree of satisfaction that we can experience in our walk with Jesus Christ, and these attributes are not determined by our outward performance, but by the release of the presence of the indwelling Christ.  It says...
5b...giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,6to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,7to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.8For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So, our goal is to be more like Jesus, to see less of ourselves and more of His nature expressed through us.   There will be accomplishments in this life, but we realize that what flows from our love relationship with Jesus - at His direction - is pleasing in the sight of God.   We grow in these qualities listed in 2nd Peter 1 by abiding in Him, surrendering areas of our lives that are not pleasing to Him to the power of the Holy Spirit and allowing His character to radiate through us.

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We recognize that there is a bigger picture, a greater story, that God is writing through our lives - and while we may have gratifying relationships with our families and other people and may be fulfilled in our vocation, ultimately it is our relationship with Christ and the building of our lives on His firm foundation that will bring us true joy and satisfaction.   Romans chapter 5 tells us that we have:
(2) ...access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.3And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;4and perseverance, character; and character, hope.5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

We've been focusing on the nationwide release of the faith-based film, "Grace Unplugged', in theaters across the land tomorrow, and celebrating the 2nd showing of Kirk Cameron's film, "Unstoppable" tonight.   And, keep your eyes on a family-friendly film that was #1 last weekend in terms of per-screen average, "Alone Yet Not Alone", which, according to Charisma News, is designed to encourage and uplift families in difficult times and tells the inspiring story of Barbara and Regina Leininger and their journey of faith and survival during the French and Indian War in 1755.

Captured by the Delaware Indians in a raid on their home and transported across more than 300 miles of wilderness to Ohio, the sisters are sustained only by their abiding trust in God and their hope of escape against all odds to be reunited with their family.

It was the highest-grossing movie last weekend in terms of per-screen average (combining theater ticket sales with Seatzy ticket sales), reaching $13,396 per screen in its limited opening in a number of cities.

And, this weekend, a limited run begins for a movie called, "Linsanity", yes, Jeremy Lin is still playing basketball, and this new film spotlights the now-Houston Rockets player who caused quite a stir during a stint with the New York Knicks, leading them to an unprecedented winning streak.

In an interview with the CNN Belief Blog, Lin was asked what he learned.  He said,

I learned a lot of things. I learned ... about how fame and success, worldly success, are great, but they are empty in a lot of different ways, and I think I learned that emptiness through Linsanity.

I also learned you know, how fun it can be and I remember how fun it was to play basketball and to play at that level and to play with my teammates. That was definitely a lifelong memory as well.

Lin related some of his favorite Scriptures, saying that,

Through difficult moments I'd say Romans 5:3-5 and Romans 8:28 talk about just being able to deal with really tough situations in life and being able to have peace beyond circumstances. And I think in terms of just playing basketball in my career, I think the story of Peter walking on water really jumps out to me -- how, when his eyes were focused on Jesus, he was able to walk on water, but the minute the waves came and the wind came and he got distracted, he lost his footing. That kind of represents the distractions of the world, and I think the good part of the story is Jesus reaches down and picks him up, and I think that's very indicative of our relationship, and our life on earth.

Lin is an Asian-American player, educated at Harvard, and undrafted in the NBA. People apparently gravitated to his story of sleeping on friend’s sofas while trying to catch a big break. And, while his time in the spotlight is not as pronounced as that run in the Big Apple, Jeremy Lin realizes that there is a bigger picture, a larger storyline that is being written by God in his life.

And in ours, too! You may have a profession and may be reasonably successful or experienced great success – and that occupation can bring satisfaction, but it’s only part of the story that God wants to express through your life. The true indicator of our lives is determined by our love for Christ, our growth in Him, and how anything that we accomplish flows from our dependence on Him and our application of His truth. The Bible speaks about lasting fruit – which comes from our abiding in Christ. If we do what we do for Christ, building on a firm foundation, that is what brings true and lasting spiritual fulfillment. There are things we do that can be enormously fulfilling to us and bring a measure of joy, and we have to make sure that all that we undertake is for the glory of God.

God is less about outward productivity as He is desiring spiritual maturity. Our endeavors flow from our inward devotion to the living God through Christ. That is what makes for a successful spiritual life.