•Friday, July 16, 2010
"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:39 NIV
We tend to "find ourselves" through things that bring us a sense of success, purpose, or identity. They meet a core need to elevate our egos. We absorb into them, until they become who we are. Perhaps you've lost yourself in a career, a relationship, a dream, or a hobby.
It's easy to get lost in these things. Our culture tells us that we are what we do. And so much time is put into the workplace it feels as though it is, in fact, the greater part of our identity. Emotions can be so intoxicating that we get lost in a relationship and feel as though it is all that is needed to satisfy and fulfill. Sometimes we carry dreams close to our hearts and lose ourselves in the hopes and fears attached to them. Even our hobbies can consume all of our attention until our identity is defined by them.
But when we put these things into proper perspective and lose ourselves in the nature of God, we won't find the inevitable disappointments and betrayals that come with losing ourselves in the things of this world.
When we stop being preoccupied with serving ourselves and instead love God without conditions, obey him without reservations, and serve him without expectations, we find a joy and peace that nothing else can offer. When our identity is defined by our relationship with the Creator, we find wholeness and the abundant life that Jesus came to offer.
We tend to "find ourselves" through things that bring us a sense of success, purpose, or identity. They meet a core need to elevate our egos. We absorb into them, until they become who we are. Perhaps you've lost yourself in a career, a relationship, a dream, or a hobby.
It's easy to get lost in these things. Our culture tells us that we are what we do. And so much time is put into the workplace it feels as though it is, in fact, the greater part of our identity. Emotions can be so intoxicating that we get lost in a relationship and feel as though it is all that is needed to satisfy and fulfill. Sometimes we carry dreams close to our hearts and lose ourselves in the hopes and fears attached to them. Even our hobbies can consume all of our attention until our identity is defined by them.
But when we put these things into proper perspective and lose ourselves in the nature of God, we won't find the inevitable disappointments and betrayals that come with losing ourselves in the things of this world.
When we stop being preoccupied with serving ourselves and instead love God without conditions, obey him without reservations, and serve him without expectations, we find a joy and peace that nothing else can offer. When our identity is defined by our relationship with the Creator, we find wholeness and the abundant life that Jesus came to offer.
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