In preparing for our devotional time last night, I ran across a quote from Lion and Lamb, by Brennan Manning. He said,
What distinguishes the Christians whose faith is deep, burning, powerful, and luminous is . . . seriousness. Seriousness is not the opposite of joy but of superficiality.
He then went on to use Francis of Assisi as an example saying that he was fun-loving, light hearted and whimsical. But that was only a part of his character. He was also committed to a “relentless search for truth and reality.”
And then he made this statement about Francis of Assisi. He said Francis was a “Jesus-haunted man who gave up all to obtain all.”
Jesus-haunted. I don’t guess I have ever thought of it that way. I interpret this idea as being unable to rest in our pursuit of Jesus – pressing ever forward toward knowing him more fully and deeply and living out of that increasing knowledge and growing relationship.
I have been challenging our 1st B family to be the church outside the walls. Yesterday, I made the point that our community would forever be impacted if each family member were completely tuned in to the same unified focus of becoming more like Jesus.
So often, our biggest problem is superficiality – we don’t take the whole “Christian thing” seriously. I can’t even imagine all the ramifications of what our world would look like if we all lived a sold-out existence for Jesus. Can you?
I challenge you to dream with me. What would it be like?
I would love to hear your thoughts. Please take the time to comment here or on Facebook or even email me at bhill33@me.com.
Let’s put our heads together and dream of a world in which Jesus followers were sold out for Him.
Wow! ‘Jesus-haunted’…that phrase did it for me! What a visual that would stay with me in this walk with HIM!
If we were all sold-out for Him:
I imagine a hunger and thirst for souls to know Him like we do.
I imagine always being in a “heaven state of mind’ where ALL that we are become about Him.Our feelings of “obligations” would turn to acts of LOVE, and honoring Him with my talents & gifts, becomes a PRIVILEGE!
Well said!