Deep Friendships; Shallow Soil

In times past, I've begun to see the value in the mundane, seemingly pointless, aspects of life. After all, how much of you friendships are formed from 'insignificant' things like shopping, sports, eating breakfast, sitting in a room doing nothing together, watching tv, eating lunch, doing yard-work, eating dinner, and even arguing?

One of my closest relationships is with my twin, Ben. Our deep conversations have been limited, and I can't think of a time (before I left for college) that we talked directly about God or the Bible, at least conversationally. Our friendship is formed on sports, food, stories about work, video games, ping-pong, fighting, etc.

Also, working with disabled people has helped build my appreciation for the 'little things' in life. I would consider JL from His Works as a really good friend. However, our friendship is founded on the fact that I can interpret what he ate for dinner last night. That makes him so happy. All of a sudden, such a meaningless conversation carries a lot of meaning.

In the end, I want to learn to appreciate and capture the small moments in life. After all, deep friendships are often founded in shallow soil. I want to learn to insert truths about God, the Bible, the Church, and the  Christian faith into my life. I want these things to become ingrained with the ordinary; an integral part of who I am and how I live. I don't want to separate the spiritual with the ordinary and I don't want to enjoy the ordinary without the spiritual.

I think one of the reasons I enjoyed Waiting for Godot so much is because the friendship between Estragon and Vladamir was so much like my relationship with Ben all those years. We never did anything significant together, yet nothing could pull us apart.

"Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" - 1 Corinthians 10:31

The Relevance of Resurrection

Many things shake our lives. It seems as though a catastrophe waits around every corner. The question is, "when life begins to shake you like a little boy shakes his etch-a-sketch, what will you do?" 

Two passages in Scripture point directly to the hope of the resurrection as the grounds for standing firm through all of life's hardships. 

The first is Philippians 3:20-4:1. Our citizenship is in heaven, not on earth. If heaven is our home, when was the last time you got homesick? Never forget, we do not belong here. Don't allow yourself to get too comfortable in this world. Never stop groaning with an eager longing to become a new creation. Remember, that one day Christ will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body by the very power that enables him to subject all things to himself! That power will not fail, we will indeed become like him. No matter what this life brings. Therefore, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. 

The second is 1 Corinthians 15:54-58. What is the worse thing that can happen to you? Death? Death has been defeated by Christ in his resurrection. It has no victory. It has no sting. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. Christ will reward every action in the next life. There is no wasted faithfulness. It will be worth it. It will not be in vain.

The only reason we have any hope is that Christ has risen from the dead. This should not be made sideline doctrine, placed on the mantle for everyone to see. It should be one of the most relevant aspects of our thoughts and desires. This is our only hope. You are a seed that will one day die and grow into something much different...much more grand. Praise God that Christ is risen! 

Daily Sacrifice

God deserves the best we have to offer. Leviticus helps show that. Animal sacrifices should be 'a male without blemish,' and grain offerings should be of fine flour. God doesn't want or deserve our second best.

It is important to note that while God requires our best, He doesn't even need our offering. If he were hungry, he would not tell us, for the world and all its fullness are his (cf. Ps. 50:12). Yes, God wants the cream of your crop, but he doesn't care about what your crop is. If you're not rich enough to give a lamb or a goat, He's perfectly happy with the two birds that you bring.

I'm just thankful that the 'best' we have to offer is actually accepted by God who owns everything. Now that's grace. Our good deeds have been prepared for us. Christ frees us to walk in them. The Spirit empowers us to obedience. It's amazing with all that God gives us that He can still call it our obedience and our faithfulness. So whatever your task is today, do it as unto the Lord.