Mankind’s biggest problem is not knowing or admitting its authorship. We find ourselves at Chapter 9 of God’s story and want to write Chapters 9-20 on our own. We think we have a pretty good idea of what should happen so we try to take the pen in our own hands and get to work. Then when we leave off at Chapter 20, we turn to the next generation and say, “OK, you take Chapters 20-30.”
We forget the purposed creation of our sheer existence! We’re not looking back to how and why Chapter 1 began or who it is that holds the pen for the storybook of our lives. We forget who the book is about; we’d rather have it be about us. We don’t want the book to be in the hands of someone else. But God created us to be glory deflectors, not glory receivers. Allowing God to take control of the pen means we have to trust the gifts He’s given us and act on them as participants in His story.
Whether you were designed by the Father to be a football player, evangelist, teacher or musician, you were created to be an eternal impacter, not only an earthly influencer. If you know God’s story and know you are an active participant in His story, your purpose and passions will reflect Him and deflect glory to His name.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” —Galatians 2:20
Stay positioned behind the cross. Ongoing sanctification means we need to remain behind the One who deserves and demands all glory. Every time you step out in front of the cross, you reveal things you’re doing well, as well as all the nastiness of your sin. The real reason you need to be behind the cross to begin with comes into full view for everyone.
If you live the Galatians 2:20 life — no longer living, but allowing Christ to live in you — you are stationing yourself as an army soldier behind the cross. Take up residency here! You want people to miss you and see Jesus. This is our ultimate person and the greatest identity we could hold! Our story is about our sins being covered by Christ, but when our sin becomes uncovered, we’re not allowing Christ’s work to reveal its full power in us.
When you don’t allow Christ’s powerful work to fully transform your mind and life, your worship will be fragmented between yourself and God. Believe God to be God. Picture your eighth-grade yearbook. Your picture might be on Page 7 with the title “Most Athletic” in Mrs. Jones’ class, but the book isn’t about you. It’s about your school, a greater community.
To create true authenticity in Christ, you can’t think this story is about you. Yes, it’s written for you and to you, with you in mind, but it’s about Him.
—Jack Easterby, Chaplain for the New England Patriots
The INCREASE is now part of The Sports Spectrum Network. For more stories like this, visit TheIncrease.com
