CONTROL-something I want to have; not something I actually have.
Steering a car. What I wear today. Where I will eat lunch. Which movie I will select at Red Box. What I will do on the weekend. These are all things that I choose to do, things that I have most control over. I make these decisions, usually effortlessly, on a daily basis. I have control in these areas.
Choosing for someone to follow commands? Choosing for a friend to be respectful? Yet most importantly, choosing for someone to follow and obey Christ…to love and honor God…and to surrender their life to the calling and duty of Christ? I have NO CONTROL over these things. Sometimes, I like to believe that the things that I do or say will force someone to make the decision that I deem favorable and that Scripture seems to make clear. Yet, things hardly turn out the way I suspect. I am learning through much trial and yet far more error that it doesn’t come down to me. That is frustrating and liberating simultaneously.
Campus Crusade used a motto that was taught to me when learning how to share my faith with random people on campus as a freshman in college. My mentor shared that successful evangelism is, “stepping out in faith and in the Spirit to share Christ with others and leaving the results up to God.” The last part of the phrase was very freeing for me.
“Okay God, I will share my faith with these people (total strangers) and its up to you to stir in their hearts. If I present myself available to You and still I don’t see any results, I trust that you are all powerful, sovereign, and you love them.”
Its when you are dealing with people that you love and care about that this motto gets thrown out the window, people you are close to. For me, that’s where control becomes an issue. If I am available, walking in the Spirit, speaking Truth, and yet I see no tangible results, then I become frustrated and discouraged. Somehow I still believe that their choosing to be obedient to Christ is up to me: my words, my illustrations, and maybe even my example???
“God, I return to You. I rely on you. Use this to teach me how to relinquish control and let you work in whatever ways you choose. Your ways are greater than mine. Your strength is greater than mine. Your purpose is greater than mine. Teach me how to be available and willing and even more prayerful, but not an extinguisher of the Spirits work…”
Philippians 4:6-7 Proverbs 3:5-6 Romans 12:10 Psalms 16:2
jmh
great, thoughtful post, jason.
ReplyDeletei know i've definitely found myself in this position especially when i talk to or pray for two of my closest non-believer friends, one who is aggressively atheist and another who just doesn't know. it's hard not seeing immediate results, but when God does move (on His own time) it's always beautiful. obedience to Christ is a choice. choosing Him through the frustration and discouragement, to love and lift up those around you, well, that's amazing. if anyone be persuaded, it will be by the Holy Spirit. just love your friends, neighbors, strangers and express God and His glorious Gospel for who He is.
Really good stuff man. Encouraged by your word. It's about time you wrote something, need more of that bro.
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