My mind has been blown. I played electric guitar on my church’s worship team this morning and had an incredible time! That’s not the reason my mind is blown though. I was reminded quite strongly that my ability to play is not mine at all – it was given to me by God, for God – and I should use it for the glory of His name. That wasn’t why though, either. Above those things, here is the mind-blowing revelation:
As part of our worship set we sang Jesus be the Centre. I can’t count how many times I have sung that song, lead that song, listened to that song, been ministered to by that song but it has lost its impact over time. Don’t get me wrong, it still has beautiful lyrics that declare truth and demonstrate how we should our lives… But the wow factor of it has been worn down.
Today, however, when we were singing the chorus something clicked. “Be the fire in my heart, be the wind in these sails” – that part seems a bit ‘out there’, you know? I get the metaphors and all that, but give me practical and I’m on board. The next line was the Kapow: “Be the reason that I live, Jesus.”
SAY WHAT!? [Double punctuation generally grates and destroys my soul, but I feel it holds value right here.] Be the reason that I live. Be the reason that I live. Jesus, be the reason that I live.
And there it was – neatly packaged punch-in-the-stomach, slap-in-the-face, don’t-go-any-further-till-you-deal-with-this, stare-truth-in-the-eye wake-up call. HEELLLOOOO! It’s so obvious and I’ve missed it all along. Such a simple concept and I get it wrong 90% of the time.
As soon as we live for anything other than Jesus, we are missing the point. Let me say it like I own it: as soon as I live for anything other than Jesus, I am missing the point. As soon as I live for work, I’m missing the point. As soon as I’m living for friends, I’m missing the point. As soon as I live for music, I’m missing the point. As soon as I live for family or success or popularity or even the church, I’m missing the point.
How much have I missed, or missed out on, because I have lived for things other than Jesus? How much have I compromised because, even momentarily, I have lived for something not focused on Jesus?
I’m challenged today to put this into practice. When I make decisions, meet with people, serve the church, visit family, play music or do anything, I need to do it as if living for Jesus. Not just in theory (because all Christians are “living for Jesus”) but practically too.
Be the reason that I live, Jesus.
