First of all, I am up way too late. It is past 9 p.m. and I am not asleep. This is not normal. Keep reading, because you know it is going to be good if I stayed up past 11 to write this.
We watched a Rob Bell video at Bible Study tonight. He was talking about anger, righteous anger and ways that we respond to situations. He suggested that anger is only a passing emotion, but ultimately how we respond to it makes it right or wrong. More or less, I agree. Jesus was angry and subsequently ran people out of the Temple because they had disrespected and not honored His Father’s house. His anger at this injustice, or misdeed, or sin, led him to do something about it. His anger moved Him to action to right the wrong, hold up the cause for the oppressed, fight the case of injustice, etc.
Rob quickly transitioned to talking about how we decide our careers, life directions, passions, or whatever you call it. Often, people will ask you, ‘What is it that you love to do?’ to help you determine what it is that you should pursue. Or, ‘What are you passionate about.’ I have written before that I am not sure that I can answer that question. I am not real certain what I am passionate about. Rob suggested asking instead, “What makes you angry? What is it that stirs within you a desire to go right a wrong, or begin something that no one is paying any attention to? What is it that makes you think, ‘Man somebody should really do something about that.’”
I feel like I might be able to answer that question easier than, ‘What are you passionate about?’ In some ways, these questions ask the same thing, because anger and passion/love are both emotions. They both are an emotional response to situations, people, etc. Obviously, they are different, but when referring to life direction, they convey the same thought. What gets you going? Something clicked when he asked that question like it never did when I have been asked, “What are you passionate about?”
I hate injustice. I want people to get a fair shake at it. I want others to have what I have, whether that is opportunities, chances, food, drink, or medicine. I want others to have clean drinking water. I want diarrhea not to kill over 20,000 people a day worldwide, when I can buy Pepto-Bismol at any gas station for the change I find on the way from my truck to the store. I want others to have the knowledge of our Savior. I want them to have the same opportunity to accept or reject Him as King, Messiah and Lord. I want equality. I hate these injustices. I think it is wrong, and I want to do something about it.
This week I have been thinking a lot about Living Water. I am currently working with them on getting trained to go and drill water wells. I am planning on making a trip this next year at least once. But more than just doing it once or twice, I want to do something like that full-time. I want to be on mission. I want to spread the gospel. I do not want to just have a successful career in the oil field. I want to see a need in the world and live my life to fill that need and to open the door for the gospel message to go forth.
This week I have been thinking about the call of the first disciples as I have worked through John 1 and 2. Immediate obedience to the call. I have been praying that God would open doors for me to go. I have been praying that I would be willing to be obedient to the call. I have been praying that this would be from God and not just my human desires to do something cool with my life. I have been praying for favor.
This week I have been thinking about living my life for more. I do not want to work 80% - 90% of my life to give away the other 10% - 20%. I want to give my whole life away. 100%. I do not want to just live a good life and die well remembered. I want more, and I think that it is from God. I think that we all should want our lives to be so much more. I know that the answer to this is to follow God.
When John and Andrew began to follow Jesus in John 1 after he had been baptized, Jesus asked them what they were seeking. They called him Rabbi or Teacher and asked him where he was staying. In essence, they responded that they were seeking truth and seeking to be taught and follow Him. Of course, Jesus does not respond in a straight forward manner. He did not tell them where He was going or what He was doing. Jesus told them to follow him and they would see where he was staying. He did not tell them where they were going. He only bid them come, and come they did. Obedience. Immediate.
That is what I want. When Jesus says come, I want to go immediately. When He calls, I want to answer. That is what gets me going.
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