“Why do you do that?”

I knew this question would come.  How I am spending my days now – working part-time here at CUMC, but working many more hours as a volunteer - wouldn’t make sense to my in-laws.  It probably doesn’t make sense to a lot of people.

How do I explain the compulsion I feel to do this work?

Or the adrenaline that appears to keep me going the countless times I have woken up hours before my alarm was set to go off, yet hopped out of bed with a level of energy that defies logic, my mind ready to focus on the latest work project or devotion?

“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.  I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.” (Psalm 86:11-12)

Heart transformation – loving God with our whole hearts – comes about when we dwell on God’s truth, when we put time and intentionality into our relationship to God.  For many of us, suffering can also drive us closer to God.  It is in the waiting and the enduring that we turn to Him, and the grace and mercy we receive show us the very face of God.

“If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”  (Jeremiah 29:13)

Finding true joy in God naturally leads us to mission and ministry – to help others know and experience the love of God.  God always draws us in so that He can send us out to serve and reach others.

Whole-hearted belief in God’s truth equips us to passionately step into our calling.  Rather than offering God our leftovers, we offer him our first fruits.  Church becomes less of a place where we are mere consumers, and more of a place where we serve.

And the beauty of all this is that when we serve in this way, we end up receiving much more than we have given.  There is deep satisfaction and joy when we give of ourselves wholeheartedly.

When we decide we want our life to be about Christ and serving Him, it is not hard to figure out what we are willing to give up in order to do the things we really care about.

My life doesn’t make sense to much of the outside world, but I don’t believe it is supposed to.  How about yours?

Heavenly Father, I pray that You will make us fit for what You have called us to be.  I pray that You will fill our good ideas and acts of faith with Your own energy so that it all amounts to something.  Move us to honor the name of Jesus with our very lives, and thereby experience Your grace.  Amen (Based on 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, The Message)