FAITH...DON'T LOCK IT INSIDE

Faith…Don’t Lock It Inside

For me, this past Sunday night was the best way to end this year’s football season. My two favorite teams were in the Super Bowl! I sat in my living room with my wife and watched the Saints come out victorious. Let me explain to you how I watched the game. I got home from church, ate a little something, and then I sat down in my recliner to peacefully watch the game, ever-mindful that I need not get too excited. After a quiet cup of tea, I watched the trophy celebration while snuggled up in front of the fire place contemplating the great plays I had seen. After that, Malia and I congratulated each other and then headed off for a peaceful night’s sleep. NOT! In fact just the opposite happened, I actually came home in a rush and scarfed down something to eat. I then quickly put the girls to bed and sat down to watch my Saints knock around the Colts. I had a really hard time sitting still. Instead, I was up hoopin’ and hollerin’ so loud that I was disturbing the sleep of my children. After much boisterous celebration, Malia and I watched the trophy presentation. I had a hard time falling asleep because I was so juiced with adrenaline. While laying in bed thinking about the game, I became a little convicted. When was the last time I was that excited over Jesus? Why do we think it is appropriate to get so excited about other things when that excitement does not transfer to the celebration of Jesus Christ?

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
A people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him
Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are a people;
Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
1 Peter 2:9-10

When we think about where we have come from, we should be a different people, a peculiar people as compared to the world. Erwin McManus, in his book entitled The Barbarian Way, explains what our faith should look like. He states that our faith should not be tamed faith; but, instead, should be an untamed faith. “To have the Spirit of God dwelling within the heart of someone who chooses a domesticated faith is like having a tiger trapped within a cage. You are not intended to be a spiritual zoo where people can look at God in you from a safe distance. You are a jungle where the Spirit roams wild and free in your life. You are the recipient of the God who cannot be tamed and of a faith that must not be tamed. You are no longer a prisoner of time and space, but a citizen of the kingdom of God- a resident of the barbarian tribe. God is not a sedative that keeps you calm and under control by dulling your senses. He does quite the opposite. He awakens your Spirit to be truly alive. (p. 66)”
As we seek to be the worshipers God has called us to be, may we let the passion we have pour out of us so that the world may know that OUR GOD REIGNS!

Aaron Hodges