Tuesday 10 May 2011

It's Out Of My Hands

#12

Matthew 10:39 "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

I live life with an agenda. Everything I do has an agenda to it if I realize it or not. I work so I can be comfortable, have a home, eat good food, enjoy my spare time. I treat my wife how she wants to be treated because, didn't you know? - A happy wife means a happy life. I teach and discipline my children so that they will not hurt themselves and so they can be successful in life. I hang out with certain friends because they make me feel good. I do what my boss wants so I can keep my job, the list goes on and on. 

Life has become a giant formula. If I do "Task A" Plus "Task B" Minus "Bad Habit C" equals "Kevin is Happy" or A + B - C  = :)

So why am I a Christian? Is being a Christian just part of my agenda? Has it just become part of my magic formula?  If I put the mirror up to my life and look long and hard I have to say yes. 

I didn't have any real answers tonight, just this confession and lots of questions for myself.  I did know something though, that this is not how I want to live out my life. This is not the abundant life God has promised me. Having an agenda does not give me the freedom that God has promised me either. Living my faith within a formula isn't really faith at all, its just me trying to take back control of the life I gave to Christ.

But thankfully God brought me to this song tonight (please listen to it) and to this verse above.  I need to remember that its out of my hands and that I need to lay my life down to truly find it. It was God who lifted my head, It was Him who set me apart. It was out of my hands - RIGHT FROM THE START!

WOW what a great formula!! God - My Control = Freedom and the Abundant life!! He has already done it all for me. He saved me, He changed me, He loved me before I ever did anything. This is where I need to live, this is the truth I need to wait passionately on.

To give up control, to let go, to open up my hands I just need to trust my saviour and live my faith out in obedience to Him.  - Because its been out of my hands, right from the start!

"Lord forgive me for trying to take control of my life again after I gave it to you. You pursued me, you sought me out and found me. You set me apart and you lifted my head, not because of what I did, but simply because you love me. Help me to live in this truth daily, moment by moment and to trust and wait on you."


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7 comments:

  1. Brenda11 May 2011 at 07:36

    I liked your visual of an equation! I think our biggest challenge on earth is to give up our will. You have inspired my next blog post. :) PS: I found you on the Christian Blogger Community.

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  2. Kevin Gill11 May 2011 at 08:24

    thanks Brenda :)

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  3. Anonymous11 May 2011 at 08:48

    As we are "losing control" of most things that we have laid claim to as our human right (i.e. job, children kept from harm, hot holidays, nice home, etc.) I am realizing how selfish I really am. I live in a rich country and I am rich. The living out of this truth is to see other peoples need and do something about it. This is my challenge.

    Now as I write this it is sounding like a formula. mmmm. The Bible says true religion is to take care of orphans and widows. So in other words to not turn a blind eye to the suffering. I just see in my life how quick I am to pray for someone, but to ask God what I can do. This culture makes me deaf.

    This is the challenge. To live by the Spirit and not by formulas. This is beyond my capabilities. It is out of my hands.

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  4. Elliott11 May 2011 at 10:16

    Thanks Kev! This is awesome and has really opened up my eyes! Keep it up bud you are awesome!!

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  5. Unknown11 May 2011 at 10:40

    Hey Kev!! I really liked this post, it very closely echos a series we just did in church called "Wild Goose Chase" It was based on a book by Mark Batterson. I guess the Celtic Irish had a term for the Holy Spirit and it was An Geadh-Glas or Wild Goose. "The name hints at mystery and the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of Danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound sacriligious, I cannot think of a better description of what it's like to follow the Spirit through life. The Celtic Christians were on to something.....most of us have no idea where we are going most of the time. And that can be unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: ADVENTURE."-from the introduction. I would totally recommend reading it. The tag line of the book is 'reclaim the adventure of pursuing God.' Again I highly recommend it for reading!!!

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  6. RJ11 May 2011 at 10:51

    Thanks.
    I've listened to that song many a time, but now I'm listening to the lyrics for the first time again...
    I needed to be reminded of that today! It's out of my hands!

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  7. Kevin Gill11 May 2011 at 13:23

    thanks for your comments and insights :)

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