Be All He Wants You To Be

by Tom Gilbert

Have you ever seen someone really wild looking? Long, disheveled hair -- scraggly beard and really intense eyes? If you did, then like most people your reaction would probably be to steer away.

What if the guy started proclaiming in a loud voice to straighten up your life, get your priorities right and get on the path to God! Now you'd really want to avoid him, right? Be honest. I know it would disturb me.

The wild man was John the Baptist. Not everyone came on as strong as He did -- but, he had a special assignment. Make straight the way of the Lord!

Others have proclaimed God's message in different ways. I find it fascinating how throughout history God has used all kinds of people to get our attention. Some are rich, some are poor. Some are strong, some are weak. Bold, meek; sophisticated, simple -- even sinners!

One thing common in all those who have really committed themselves to the Lord is that they have truly let go to God. The abandonment is complete. And that is why they are able to do so much. They are anointed with power and they are doing things most of us ordinary folk don't believe is even possible.

Do you realize that you, too, can be one of these anointed?

George Eliot, pseudonym of the Victorian writer Mary Ann Evans, said, "It is never too late to be what you might have been."

No Time Like The Present

Every New Year we typically resolve to do some things in the coming year. The big ones are health, finance and relationships. The trick bag we all get caught in is the faddishness of New Year resolutions. Most of us won't keep them past a month or two. We haven't really resolved anything.

True commitment has nothing to do with once a year resolutions. It is a daily walk and every morning when we rise we can renew our minds and our hearts. Sure, the New Year can be a time of re-commitment. Just don't let the fire of your initial resolve fade.

But let's go back to the wild man...

God wants us to be truly and completely committed. Of course, he recognizes our weakness. In fact, He's ready, as soon as we let go, to step in and work with us in our powerlessness. He's a mighty God. A BIG God! He wants to demonstrate his power through us.

Do you have a wild heart? Are you ready for the holy, wild call of a mighty God?

That Scary Feeling

I have this scary little feeling in the pit of my stomach sometimes. It's a feeling that if I'd really -- I mean really -- let go of my boundaries of control and just abandon with complete faith to God that incredible and miraculous events would happen. This scares me, I guess, because there is still some doubt in my mind. Or, maybe I'm afraid of what my life would be like if suddenly God did start doing miracles through me. I'm not sure I want that burden. Bottom line: I'm not accepting that holy, wild call.

Jesus said over and over again that just the tiniest bit of faith could bring amazing results. He also declared that those who believe in Him and the Father would do greater things than even he did while here on Earth.

Greater things than Jesus did? Well, let's see... what could that be? Blind people seeing, deaf people hearing, lame people walking, and dead people rising! Greater than this?!

This is one holy (and wild) call!

This makes my annual resolutions (exercise more, read more, get out of debt) seem lame by comparison. How about resolving to answer that holy call?

Baby Steps

Maybe we try to do too much, too soon, too fast. It's not a good idea to hold back on our potential. Yet, we all surely recognize that if we don't start moving we aren't going anywhere.

"The thousand mile journey begins with but a step" and all that. Sure, that gets us moving. But there's another advantage to starting with small steps: it allows us the time to really commit.

Start with baby steps and these seemingly small movements forward become profound parts of our journey.

This year, instead of making a long list of resolutions, you might try taking one word and finding a way for that word to transform you for the entire year. Words like patience, simplicity, humility, and service. Or how about abundance, fullness, forgiveness, faith and compassion?

If one word doesn't seem significant enough, try one word each month. Think what an entire month of concentrating on having more patience might do for you.

Above All

The best word of all is love. Resolving... committing... putting your whole dedication and being into loving more is what Paul was telling the struggling new Christian community in Corinth was the highest calling. Priority numero uno.

You can change. You can be a better person. You can positively impact others. You can be a beacon of light that shines God's goodness. You can be all He wants you to be.

You don't have to wait for New Year's Day to make that resolution.

That's wild. That's holy. That's God calling.

Life Applications:

What New Year resolutions have you made in the past that didn't stick?

What do you think God is calling you to be?

What one word or "fruit of the Spirit" could you focus on this year?

Copyright 2002 by Tom Gilbert 
All rights reserved.