I’m not really one for resolutions. I’m undisciplined, terribly
manipulative in my own mind and can justify doing/not doing just about anything
I want, and I don’t necessarily think that humans develop in a linear
manner. That said, I do think that
I have a goal for 2012.
Over the last two weeks I read a book titled With:
Reimagining the way you relate to God. The main premise is that many of us
live life over, from, under, or for God.
When, in reality, we ought to be living life WITH God. In all of the other four approaches
something else is the focus other than God. Life over God, we are the focus. God is pretty irrelevant. Life from God, what we get from God is the focus. Life under God, how God responds to our
deeds and misdeeds is the focus. And
Life for God, the way that we accomplish what God wants us to is the
focus. None of them capture the
essence of a relationship with God.
I have spent a lot of 2011 running around. I have been working hard at doing a lot
of things FOR God. Whether it is
in ministry – spending time with students, teaching, studying, and seminary or
whether it is personally trying to be generous, loving, a better listener, it
was all FOR God. All of these
things are good and helpful, but it seems like quite a bit of effort if you ask
me. And you should ask me, since
it was me in 2011 doing these things.
I have spent a decent chunk trying to get things from
God. I want him to bless my
ministry, marriage, and other relationships. I want him to take care of my wife and me financially. I want him to make me a better man,
husband, pastor etc. All of these
things have become idols at one point or another.
And then I read Psalm 46 this morning. David elaborates on just how enormous
God is. No matter what may take place,
seas crashing, mountains moving, even if the earth gives way (whatever that
means, but it sounds horrible), God is in charge. Ultimately, you aren’t. In all of my efforts to get things from Him or do things for
Him, I genuinely think that I am something of impact. That somehow I can effect the order of the cosmos, or bring
rain on the dry souls of high school students, or produce in my life and
marriage a crop of love and faithfulness that is impossible for any human to
produce. David brilliantly
illustrates just how big God is revealing just how small we are.
And then, he closes with what is my goal for 2012. It’s simple really. So simple it’s kind of silly to make it
a goal. But those seem to be the
kinds of things that I need to make goals out of. Here it is, ready?
God is speaking and says “Be
still, and know that I am God”.
That’s it. That is my goal
for 2012. I want to look back at
2012 and be able to say “that was the year that I was still and KNEW that He was God.”
I am sure that this year I will try to do lots for God. I am certain that on many occasions I
will attempt to get things from God.
But my desparate cry, the longing of my soul for 2012 is that those
things that I do for Him, and those things that I seek from Him are dauntingly
overshadowed by my desire to be WITH Him.
That, comparatively, I won’t want things from Him or things for Him,
that what I will want is Him. That
for the first time in my life, I can genuinely say that I sought Him first,
knowing that all of the other things may or may not be added. I want this year to be the year that I sell
everything to buy the field to get the hidden treasure.
Folks, I can’t make you resolve to do this. I can’t make this your goal. But I can tell you, that whatever you
will treasure in 2012, there is only one thing worth treasuring. It is God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is the gift of salvation. He is the gospel. He is the good news. You get God. Sure, lose weight, read books, be a more loving father,
husband, etc., but in all of your doings and gettings, be WITH God this year.