Truly Loving Christ...

I was reading a book this morning by Francis Chan called Crazy Love.  What I was reading really made me think so I figured I'd share it!  :o) 


Here it goes:  "Have you ever met someone who was utterly and desperately in love with Jesus?  I have.  My wife's grandma Clara.  I spoke recently at Grandma Clara's funeral, and I could honestly tell the mourners gathered that I have never known anyone more excited to see Jesus.  Every morning Clara would kneel by her bed and spend precious hours with her Savior and Lover; later in the day, just the sight of that corner of her bed would bring joy-filled tears and a deep anticipation of the next morning spent kneeling in His presence.  Grandma Clara acted toward God the way we act toward people we're madly in love with.  When you are truly in love, you go to great lengths to be with the one you love.  You'll drive for hours to be together, even if it's only for a short while.  You don't mind staying up late to talk.  Walking in the rain is romantic, not annoying.  You'll willingly spend a small fortune on the one you're crazy about.  When you are apart from each other, it's painful, even miserable.  He or she is all you think about; you jump at any chance to be together." 


Reading this really made me think about the way I love Jesus.  I don't love Him like that.  I don't wake up excited to spend time with Him.  I don't think about Him all day long.  I don't give like I should.  I do none of what's mentioned above.  I even complain about my 30 minute drive to church.  I mean...seriously?!  What in the world am I complaining about?!  I am blessed to be where I am.  I'm so very thankful that God brought me to Bethel.  What is my problem?  Why is it so difficult to make myself go?  Well...the answer to that question is simple.  I'm lazy.  That seems to be the answer to lots of questions these days.  Have you lost anymore weight, Jamie?  Well...I gained some back...now I'm beginning to lose again.   Really?  You gained?  Yes.  I gained.  What happened?  Well...I allowed myself to become lazy.  Again.  This is the story of my life.  Boo.  I don't want that to be my story.  I want my story to be about strength and courage.  A story of one overcoming their struggles.  I want mine to be a story of success, of love, of a life that truly lived for Christ no matter what the cost.  Is that even possible?  I think so!!  It's just making the decision to do so.


In Crazy Love Francis quoted something from John Piper's book, God Is the Gospel.  I also found it very interesting.  Enjoy!  :o)


"The critical question for our generation --and for every generation -- is this:  If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict, or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?"


Doesn't that make you think?  It all sounds so wonderful...until you read that last part.  Could you be satisfied with heaven if Christ wasn't there?  My first thought is:  What's the point?  What is the point of heaven without Jesus?  I don't think that's what Piper meant though.  I think he meant...do we put enough emphasis on Jesus in our everyday life now to notice if He wasn't  in heaven with us.  Would we get so wrapped up in everything else that it would even make a difference?  I have to admit...I don't spend time with Him daily like I should.  I am working on that and getting better but it's still an everyday struggle for me.  I can get so wrapped up in people that my focus completely changes from Jesus to them so easily.  I hate admitting that.  My pride wants people to see me as this strong Christian who isn't willing to compromise her beliefs and never messes up.  Truth be told none of that is true.  I mess up everyday.  It's our nature.  I think we use that to justify our sin sometimes.  "It's just our nature.  No one is perfect."  That's right.  No one is perfect but I should try everyday to be better than I was the day before.  I shouldn't be caught up in habitual sin.  I should be nailing my sin to the cross and walking away.  Isn't that what repenting is all about?  Turning from your sin.  Giving it to the Father and walking away.  Hopefully never to return.  Now...I know that's almost impossible to do but that should be what we are striving to do.  Right?  Right.  This world offers so many things that can take our attention away from the only One who deserves it.  We are a people of addictions.  It's most definitely in our nature to be that way.  So many people are trying to fill this void they have in themselves with the wrong things.  We really do have this "God-shaped hole" that only He can fill.  We'll make ourselves miserable trying to fill it with anything but Him.  He's the only One who can really satisfy us.  Gosh.  If we could just get that.  Truly get it.  Everything about the way we think and act would change completely.  Hmm...


Well...I think I'm done rambling for now.  Until next time!  :D