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Brian Sharpe |
Intentional Living
By
Brian Sharpe
I have been in ministry, working with students,
for 10 years. Over the years there have been themes that God has
brought out through teaching or experience.
Over the past couple of years I have been hearing
the same theme. On the Evangelical Free Church Student Ministries
Council I serve on, in staff meetings, in training seminars, and just
as God teaches me through His Word, He has been calling me to
intentional living.
The problem is, it is easy getting caught up in
what needs immediately to be done -- the tyranny of the urgent. You
think, if I don’t do it then it no one else will.
I am a doer. I like being a doer. I will help in
most situations. If a storage room needs cleaned out, I will help.
Martin often says I need to focus. This is a part of intentional
living, having in mind the things that are important so you will focus
on them. Doing everything in your power to stay on track and
accomplish the “big rocks” in your ministry and life. (Big rocks are
the most important things that need to be done in ministry and life.)
As a believer in Jesus, in life and ministry I
have two main foci. These need to rule everything I do. They are: the
Great Commandment, and the Great Commission.
Jesus gets asked the question, “What is the
greatest commandment?” And He answers this question. His response
summarizes the most important thing that you and I can do with our
lives. There is no bigger rock in life or ministry.
Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-40:
“You must love the Lord your God with all
your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and
greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the
prophets are based on these two commandments.”
These verses for believers should form the basis
for our everyday intentionality. They should be what we live for, what
makes us tick. When we are building our lives around them, our hearts
and lives will change. We will be different.
What defines you? What are your “big rocks?” If
we desire to live intentionally, we will ask these kinds of questions.
Then we will be compelled actions. That’s where we need to be. We
need to be moved from hearers of the word, to effectual does of the
word. This goes along with the beatitudes. When we live as God calls
us to live in the beatitudes, and then action will be the result.
James says you will see my faith by what I do. We are saved by faith,
but that fail compels us to action.
I know I have a long way to go to live
intentionally. But I need to start the process. I need to ask the
questions and allow the answers to shape the way I live.
A couple of years ago I was listening to a
sermon. A statement that the pastor made will stick with me for the
rest of my life. He said, the way we live shows us who is on the
throne of our life. How you answer these questions defines you.
Knowing what your big rocks are will help you see who or what is on
the throne of your life. Take time this next week and asks these
questions. Evaluate how you are living and be compelled to action.
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