Simplicity

Last week, I heard a presentation by marketing genius, Seth Godin, at High Point University. The entire keynote was exciting, motivating, and encouraging for young entrepreneurs.

He stated something halfway through his presentation that was one of the most profound moments of his entire speech. In response to a question by our president, Dr. Qubein, he stated that a success to staying fit and maintaining health is eating simply so that you may live fully.   

Eat simple, live full.

Live simply, live fully.

When we remember to live our lives in simplicity, we avoid distraction and stay the course. For the Christian faith, it is essential to remember our purpose every single day. Our purpose on earth is simple-love God, and love others because you love God.   If that is our intention every single day, our lives actually become more full. When we live in the groove for which we were created, we thrive. 

I find it so interesting how we try and color outside of the lines hoping to "experiment", or find out more about ourselves.  In reality, we achieve the most then we realize what we were made for, and stay in that reality.   

John 5:30 

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Let us re-focus on what we were made for, and eliminate the things in our lives that take us our of the groove. 

 Trains cannot run apart from the specific grove in their tracks. The same is true for us. We cannot run or reach our destination unless we fit to the mold of which we were created.  And God does not make us identical-do not fear not being unique!  Your uniqueness will be found in Him, simply living for and with Him, and thriving in that creation.  

Live simply-Live in Him- and Live fully in the way He directs.     

2 Corinthians 1:12

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

The Surprise

What makes a surprise special? For me a real surprise is something that you couldn't even begin to guess-nowhere on your radar and nowhere in your day-to-day thoughts.

Why were Christmases when we were young so special? Many would say Santa. I say it was the surprise. Santa wouldn't be glorified in our society's mind unless he brought a surprise! He brings the gift that is unexpected-wrapped in a way that alludes to the gift, but does not completely make it obvious in the child's mind.

Now, what makes Christianity, special?  To answer this, we must look at Jesus. Jesus was special because He was a surprise. He was and is a fulfillment of prophecy, but the manner by which He came to us and for us was a surprise. He was not a surprise gift, but the way in which He was presented was.

Now let us step back and look at this from the "surpriser's" point of view. You plan a surprise party for your friend, and you are so excited. In fact, you maintain more excitement than the one that ends up being surprised. Why? You see the whole picture. You know the work you put in to its organization and orchestration. You know the special gift you purchased for the individual's birthday. You cannot wait to celebrate with them as this is a new turning point in their life.

Imagine our Heavenly Father planning a surprise party for us. He has prepared the perfect gift-His perfect son. He has invited the perfect people-His creation. He understands that not everyone will accept the surprise- yet proceeds with the planning.

Our God understood that the perfect gift would be a surprise to His creation. But once we understand the gift, it all makes sense. It all becomes clear. It all fits together. And, we are filled with joy. We are filled with the joy we experienced when we were six years of age unwrapping a gift we may not have ever anticipated receiving. Yet once it is opened- it all makes sense, and you are so grateful.

Let us return to Christmas morning excitement when we open our bibles and open our hearts. He was a surprise for a reason- for that moment when we GET IT.   When we get it, we repent. When we get it, we look to Him more. When we get it, we are awe-struck. Surprises are more exciting than the expected.

Surprises are not happen-stance or random. Let us remember that tedious planning goes into a surprise, and to not take His surprise for granted. In addition, let us remember that surprises are intentionally crafted for a specific reaction from the surprised. 

Let us return to the humility and joy of a young child on Christmas morning. Let us regain the reverence and the awe when we look at Him.  


John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth
John 1:15-17 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Defense

Ever since my first psychology class during my sophomore year of High School, I have been fascinated by the word "attractive".  What makes something attractive to a human, and what are the qualifications for making a person attractive?


I even turn this question on the Gospel..what makes the Good News of the Gospel attractive to Christians? And, what makes the Gospel attractive to the non-believer who desires to know more?


Let us look at what Paul wrote to fellow believers, the Phillipians. The title of this section in my Bible is titled, "The Advance of the Gospel", and in other translations "Paul's Chains Advance the Gospel".

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³ As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ¹⁴ And because of my chains,most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

¹⁵ It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶ The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. ¹⁸ But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice."
-Philippians 1:16

Paul understood through the Holy Spirit, that joy in the midst of tribulation was the most effective means of spreading the Gospel. Why? Because it was shocking. If we look at our present culture, the shocking events are the headlines. The events that jolt our hearts to ask, "why?" make the news and become popular. 

We were formed to recognize the shocking. We were formed to recognize the irregular, the odd, and the abnormal. We were formed to recognize the eternal. 

Paul knew that joy in times of tribulation brought the Gospel to non-believers and strengthened the spirits of the Philippians. Paul was chosen by God, as a Favored One, to reveal the steadfast and consistent Grace of Jesus. As he states, His mission and calling was to stand in defense of the Gospel. This brings up something very interesting. 

Are we standing in defense of the Gospel? 

de·fense

  [dih-fens or, especially for 7, 9, dee-fens]  noun, verb, de·fensed, de·fens·ing.

noun

1.

resistance against attack; protection: Two more regiments areneeded for the defense of the city.

2.

something that defends, as a fortification, physical ormental quality, or medication: This fort was once the maindefense of the island.

3.

the defending of a cause or the like by speech, argument,etc.: He spoke in defense of the nation's foreign policy.

To defend something, we must position ourselves in locations where we can aid the Gospel in resisting attack. The Gospel doesn't need us. The Gospel is perfect, flawless and can certainly defend itself. Yet, we need the Gospel. We need to defend the Gospel so that the Gospel is proclaimed and uninhibited in our hearts. We defend the Gospel more for ourselves, than for the Gospel itself. 

We were formed to defend the work of God, because we are the work of God. By standing in the light of God while placed in the darkness of earth we become shocking. We defend the account of the Gospel. We are attracted to the shocking because WE are the shocking! We are the differential in a world of stagnancy. The Holy Spirit within us seeks the Book that was formed by the same hands. The Bible. 

We need not defend the Gospel in the same manner that one defends a city. Guns, armor and ammunition wil not protect the Gospel from attack. Instead, proclamation is defense. It took me a long time to understand that when it comes to Jesus, to protect Him, means to make Him known. Once He is revealed, there is no stopping the power of grace. The only thing that harms the Gospel is hiding it. Proclaiming the Gospel is defense. 

"For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified". 1 Corinthians 2:2 

Always be ready to defend...or proclaim..the Gospel. 


And, Always be ready to protect your heart. For, "from it flows the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23). Our hearts must stay strong during defense, and if when defending the Gospel, your heart begins to feel troubled, let us rest. We cannot go so far to proclaim the Gospel that we forget the roots of salvation, and neglect the consuming power and presence of the Spirit in our lives. 

"… always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you… " 1 Peter 3:15

When proclamation doesn't seem to be defense enough from the world, remember this: we were made to proclaim His great name. His creation, he nature around us, proclaims the Holiness of our God. Let us take their perfect cue. 

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:18-20