By Monica Schlange
If you’re anything like Eric and I, after you heard Jonathan Bridges preach on Sunday you were simultaneously highly motivated and completely stopped in your tracks. The sermon was SO eye-opening to so much need in the world; physical and spiritual. Eric and I find ourselves in a similar place to Jonathan and Danielle, asking God what He wants of us. Realizing life cannot look the same as it did yesterday. Knowing we’re called to more. Willing to go to the biggest extreme, but wanting to do so by God’s direction rather than on a whim.
One thing Jonathan talked about are three perspectives of ours that need to be adjusted, based on Mark 10:17-31. Our perspective on our wealth. (we are an extremely wealthy nation.) Our perspective on Jesus’ authority. (Go. Sell. Give. Come. Follow.) Our perspective on Jesus’ deep, deep love. (He commanded us to be slaves of righteousness because of his deep, deep love.)
Based on these I’m evaluating various areas of my life. If you are also undone over the urgent, urgent needs and are looking for a place to start maybe doing something similar will help you figure out what God has next for you. These are the areas I’m personally taking to the Lord, plus some possible questions to ask Him about them:
- Money: is there any sin in my life regarding my finances? Should I work more, less or elsewhere? Are there ways my spending or saving should be different that would allow me to increase my giving? Am I committing my finances to prayer?
- Slaves of righteousness: is there any sin in my life regarding living righteously? If so, what is God calling me to turn from? What else does the Bible say about being a slave to righteousness and what steps am I to take toward that?
- Spiritual Disciplines: am I growing in my relationship with the Lord? If not, why not? Am I reading my Bible regularly? Am I fighting spiritual battles through prayer and/or fasting? Am I talking about Jesus to people?
- Time: is there any sin in my life regarding how I spend my time? Is God asking me to spend more time with Him, with unbelievers, with Christians, with my family? Is God asking me to spend less time with anything or anyone?
- Screens: is what I’m doing on screens glorifying to God, edifying to me and others, helpful to furthering the kingdom? Is God calling me to something radical in regards to screens?
- Reaching out: am I reaching out and helping anyone in Lake County? Am I reaching out and helping anyone in the world? If not, what is God saying my next step is in this area?
- Small Groups: Am I in a small group? Should I start a new group for a certain purpose? If I’m not in a small group, what is stopping me and how can I get past it?
- Other areas that could be added in an effort to figure it all out: my home, my mouth, the books I read, the music/podcasts I listen to, my relationships, my parenting, my schooling, my dating/marriage, my honesty, worry/fear.
A few other practical things we’re all invited to do:
- As Jonathan said: “The alternative to a life surrendered to Jesus is hell. You might not actually be saved. Works are always evidence of a life surrendered to Jesus. If you have not yet fully surrendered to Jesus, now is the time to do so.”
- As Jonathan mentioned on Sunday: purchase an ornament made by Himalayan Freedom Co.
- Come to the gym this Sunday morning (Dec 8) at 9am where Jonathan will be speaking more in Doug Bridges’ Sunday School class.
- Give to a kingdom cause. Two opportunities to support missions are in the entry way at Grace Church.
- Give food to the Open Arms ministry.
- Talk to Pastor Brent about joining a Small Group or starting a Small Group.
I can’t wait to live more radically for Jesus alongside you all, whatever that ends up looking like for each of us! This is exciting!
