So, after bull-dozing you with my love and affection for my dear girlfriends, I decided to take a little time off and enjoy my weekend a bit! And enjoy it I did- what a sweet weekend filled with great friends, quality down time, new adventures and a Fightin’ Texas Aggie win! One of the better weekends I’ve had this fall for certain. I truly hope you enjoyed reading about my friends as much as I enjoyed writing about them. It made me miss each one of them individually, and I’m more than ready to see them over Thanksgiving!
(old school, right there)
So as I thought on what to share out of the constantly- revolving wheel of thoughts in my head, my initial impulse was to ruminate on all things Aggie- a collection of sentimental memoirs from my time in Aggieland. However, I realize I’m much too under-the-influence of the “Aggie Kool-Aid” at the moment after an awe-inspiring scene at Kyle Field on Saturday, so I’ll wait to see how the rest of this season pans out before I have to eat my words. Not that I would spring to any rash conclusions, but my little Aggie heart might just beat too proudly for some of my Big 12 friends. I can’t help it- there’s just something special here- more on that come December J
I hope to use my deep understanding of mathematics (ha) to use logic in explaining some biblical concepts today, but unfortunately, the transitive property doesn’t always apply to football. Ex. If A=B, and B=C, then A=C works in my dumbed-down lesson on Jesus, but not in the Big 12. One would think (and if an Aggie, hope) that:
If Texas A&M beats Texas Tech, and Texas Tech beats Baylor, then Texas A&M will beat Baylor.
However, this same logic didn’t work out so well for us in this instance:
If Texas A&M beats Texas Tech, and Texas Tech beats Missouri, then Texas A&M will beat Missouri.
Yeah, not so much. That’s what’s so great about college football…anything can happen! I love it!
On that note, I wanted to go a little deeper and share something that has been on my heart these past few weeks. I’m leading a study on the book of Colossians with some college girls from my church, Grace Bible, on Wednesday nights, and I’ll admit, I’ve read ahead a little. There’s a certain idea that I have been grappling with this semester that Paul addresses in Colossians- being able to give an answer. Take a look at Colossians 4:5-6:
“Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Early on in the semester, we talked out what that idea meant, specifically when it comes to sharing the gospel. There are so many different takes and methods on how we ought to go about evangelizing. Truly, I do love to discuss with others how to go about reaching the world for Christ, and I’m inspired and encouraged by friends of mine who are radical in their approach. However, I could talk about evangelizing with all my Christian friends every day and never get a single person any closer to the kingdom of heaven. So I had to start examining my own heart and life to figure out how to apply this verse. It seems so simple; we just make it so complicated.
I realized this when a friend encouraged me to have completely memorized the message of the gospel. My initial thought was, “well, of course I know the gospel, I’ve been taught this since before I could even speak!” But what she meant was more of what I consider knowing “how to answer everyone.” People have questions beyond Jesus’ death and resurrection- rarely will you find anyone who takes the elementary version of Easter at face value, and if they don’t have questions, are you really giving them the message of salvation? It’s the most confrontational, counter-cultural, radical, dumbfounding message they will ever receive; everything about it goes against our own sinful, human ideas of justice. When you show them grace, when you introduce them to Jesus, they’re going to have to deal with it, reckon with it, and truly search their soul. It’s confrontational and intolerant, but it’s also the best news they will ever hear. How do you present that?
Starting this new job and taking a step out of the college scene (don’t worry, I still have one foot firmly in) has opened my eyes to a sea of opportunity before me- my mission field. I know for certain that God has me here at this place and time for a divine reason. I don’t know how long he’ll have me here as I continue to surrender my will to His daily, so this verse strikes me when it speaks of opportunity. I’m not guaranteed many, if any, so the hastiness behind the verbiage is compelling. I’m called to “make the most” out of these situations while being “full of grace”- that idea is so counterintuitive to the thought process of many modern-day “televangelists” or street-corner “prophets.” They display boldness without love- a message that a hurting world feels burned by, their hearts becoming more calloused with each Christ-void word. It also runs in contrast to the cushy-version of evangelizing- the relationship-centered approach, which so many lukewarm Christians lean too heavily on as their excuse for not proclaiming the Word- too heavy on the grace without enough truth, so once the relationship gets any depth to it, they are either overcome with a fear of hurting the relationship, or they have already misrepresented Christ and doubt that they would be taken seriously.
(not a good way to share the gospel)
Christ gives us the example (as always).
He spoke truth IN love, mercy WITH justice. And of course, He did it perfectly because He was talking about Himself. He IS love, mercy, and justice. He is full of grace because He is full of Himself. He was able to give an answer because he WAS the answer. And this is where I had my “EUREKA” moment a few days ago- it’s so obvious, and I knew it all along, but it was one of those times that the truth hit me anew, square in the face.
How do I act wise? By seeking wisdom; Christ is all wisdom; therefore, if I seek Christ, I seek wisdom.
How do I show grace? By seeking grace; Christ is full of grace; therefore, if I seek Christ, I seek grace.
How do I give an answer? By seeking the answer; Christ is the answer; therefore, if I seek Christ, I seek the answer.
How do I show love? By seeking love; Christ is love; therefore, if I seek Christ, I seek love.
I was never good at math, and I thank God I wasn’t. I wouldn’t be dating Clayton today if I had been, because his unrivaled patience with me as my math tutor from ages 13-19 brought us together. But I do get the concept of if A=B and B=C, then A=C. Because Christ is all, and in all (Col. 3:11), this idea works for quite a few things.
You don’t have to be into apologetics to apply this verse; I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not an avid student of it. There are some basics though, that as a Christian, you are required to know. Know the gospel. Know it backwards and forwards. Like I challenged my Bible study girls, write it out using your own words and your own set of Scriptures so that you can give an answer on a whim. Know it like you know your favorite song, be able to whip it out at a moment’s notice. And then share it. Don’t keep the most incredible gift you’ve ever been given to yourself. Sharing denotes a taking part in together- as members of one body, we get to share in the everlasting covenant our Father made with us, why would you not want others to share in this amazing grace?
I’m like most of you. As I write this, I look at my life and I say, “ok, why am I not doing that?” I’m not ashamed of the gospel, but I often fear man instead of God. That’s an idol. I know I’m forgiven, but I worry that my sinful self will get in the way of my presentation. That’s an idol.
I’ve been given an opportunity here in College Station to radically reach my world for Christ. I’ve been praying big prayers in faith, and God is faithful to answer. The question is, am I ready to give an answer? In my next post, I want to give you one.
RB
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