Two incidents took place recently that got me thinking about how Jesus impacts our lives in ways we don’t appreciate.
I work with those in the 16-18 age bracket who are looking for help getting a job. I run a number of workshops geared at raising awareness of jobsearch methods and encouraging the learners to make the most out of what they have to make progress in being effective finding, applying and successfully starting a job. Whilst I was conversing with a learner on things they needed to be aware of about themselves, the learner remarked on how I ought to be a ‘gospelly’ type of person. It was a compliment (I asked twice to confirm) and it was told in the light of how animated I become in conveying a point to them almost like a preacher (a good one, obviously). Later in the conversation a colleague who was the first person to get a job, joined in. He went onto describe the kind of help I’d given him in being successful to get the job and half-jokingly described me as his ‘Jesus Christ’. (At which point I rent my clothes and smote my breast and wailed crying out to all gathered not to look upon me as their god and turn to the true and Living God before they were wiped off the face of the earth for their idolatry … OK maybe I didn’t over-react quite like that.) He meant it in the sense of helping him out and saving him from ongoing diffculties finding work as well as ongoing moral support, etc.
Now hopefully as you know reading one or two of the blog entries on here, I’m not writing that to blow my own trumpet and have other people gaze upon the beauty of my holiness. (Dude, don’t do that. Please.) The point of it was to show that even without tyring, even by ‘being yourself’, something of Christ can shine through. Now this is big news for me of all people, as I’ll explain why later on.
One of the reasons why I believe the learner and my colleague mentioned these things was because of an appearance of something lively. It reminds me of what James (or Jimbo/Jimmy/Jim as he probably was to his apostolic friends) says about the fervent and effectual prayer of the righteous man. It occurs to me that if you have a fervent and effectual prayer life that must be sourced in a fervent and effectual life. If you’re going to do something – do it with intensity.
When some people think about intensity they often relate to emotions, but it is not all about noise and theatricality – it can be quiet and composed. Some of the most intense moments and people I’ve experienced have been rather calm. One example of the intense without the drama is God’s chat with Elijah when the prophet had a persecution complex. For all the pomp and ceremony over the natural phenomena that surrounds Elijah while he waits it is actually the still small voice that conveys all there is to know about what God has to tell his beleaguered prophet. It is an intense conversation not just from the emotionally wrought and spiritually exhausted Elijah, but also from the God who hears and answers.
Through this and other episodes the life of intensity – the importance of giving everything to what is done is evident, and as it’s been seen in my life, I can only credit God for the people He has sent in my life to bring that about. Two examples of intense living were especially influential to me. One is in my friend Ray. His blindness was not an excuse for him and he showed great commitment and intensity in all his dealings. His compassion for the lost of whatever sort motivated him to engage with people with great sincerity and not only did he show love in hearing people out and checking their welfare but he would make the most of any opportunity to show the reason for his love was Jesus. Whatever it was if he was going to do it, he might as well mean it.
The other example is my mentor Hughie who exhibited immense intensity in all of his affairs – whether in football or in conversation, preaching or delivering a workshop it was evident that here was someone in command of his material and very purposeful in putting it across to others. To me he was a great role model in that area and showed its worth as well as its cost. Even when he did wrong, he would it intensely and I found it to be an admirable quality. Indeed it was arguably that which attracted me to him especially compared to some of the contemporaries who were not as proactive or sold out to Christ as he was.
So when I read of God calling me to worship Him with all my heart, soul and mind and relate that to the level of intensity that makes a difference in life and relationships I am humbled to know he works through me in such a way. It’s all the more amazing considering my disposition for years was one more than used to apathy. My favourite phrase used to be ‘I can’t be bothered’ so the thought of doing anything with whole-hearted investment was fairly strange. Yet it came to be over my life that episodes took place where evidently the half-hearted would not suffice. A lacksadaisical approach would only end up in misery. God in His infinite wisdom saw it fit to put me in circumstances where I learnt the value of doing things with that level of meaningfulness and also showing the futility of not living life intensely. Now the Christ in me compels me to be so. I see that as the reason for people’s response like tje learner and my colleague.
I am never too far away from looking for an easier option that requires less effort or commitment. I’m never too far away from an apathetic approach, but with so many lives at stake and a glorious Kingdom to demonstrate and declare God’s requirement to live intensely becomes all the more essential to follow.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
Life With CD 