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who's at the center?


Hebrews 12:2  NLT
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Who is at the center of our lives?  That is not an easy question to answer because most of us know the right answers and what ought to be.  Yet when we step back and get honest it is evident that Jesus is not at the center of our lives.

One of my favorite authors and preachers is Francis Chan.  I’d like to share some quote from his book Crazy Love and one from a sermon he preached.  Chan knows haw to communicate in way that gets me thinking.  Read on…

“God is not just one thing we add to the mix called life. He wants an invitation from us to permeate everything and every part of us.” ― Francis Chan, Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit

Everything and every part of us means just what it says.  God desires to be part of everything in our lives.  When we chose to simply add Jesus in to what we are doing we will miss the best that he has for us.  We will not only miss His blessings, but we will miss the ability to bless others. 

Jesus at the center helps everything in our lives fall in to place or to be on the right path.  Here is another quote that made me stop and think:

“The core problem isn’t the fact that we’re lukewarm, halfhearted, or stagnant Christians.  The crux of it all is why we are this way, and it is because we have an inaccurate view of God.  We see Him as a benevolent Being who is satisfied when people manage to fit Him into their lives in some small way.  We forget that God never had an identity crisis.  He knows that He’s great and deserves to be the center of our lives.” ― Francis Chan

He knows His place.  He knows who He is.  The problem is our situations and our human thinking keep God from having the central place in our lives.  It even goes further that when we find success of many different kinds that God is often pushed out of the center place in our lives.

Psalm 62:10  NLT
Don’t make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life.

I pray that God will have all the places in my life as well as the center and most important place.  He is not something we add.  He is the one who keeps us and the one we worship.

“Having faith often means doing what others see as crazy. Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers.” ― Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

Faith makes us do crazy things.  Faith makes us leave the status quo or the every day norms that simply let God be a tag on to life.  Who’s at the center of your life?
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Anonymous said…
I too love Francis Chan!!! I have read his Crazy Love and am now teaching or leading discussion with 4 other adults who have chosen to meet at 8:30 am on Sunday morning BEFORE SS class. We are on the Lukewarm chapter now and going over each scripture reference in the workbook! My prayer is that God will give us a desire to get on fire for His Kingdom. I read your blog every day, and many times pray for your list of folks. Blessings to you, your family, and your church family, Jeanne Rumbley in Eden,NC
October 9, 2014 at 9:04:00 PM EDT
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