I'm posting my notes from the Christmas Eve Experience at TheBOD. You'll likely find nothing original, or especially profound. Simply the heart of a man striving to hear the heartbeat of God and be a willing vessel.
Willing Vessels
12-24-09
Along the way I’m learning to listen for the heartbeat of God. The thoughts that follow are likely not
expressly profound, nor original, but seem pertinent to my journey. For me they are yet another lesson in
the grace of God. The initial
thoughts are likely random and scattered because the original notes are being
written from bed with fever and a throbbing headache. In spite of the more logical idea of rolling over and trying
to sleep, I’m writing down these thought before they escape me…
My belief that God is actively engaged in the center of everything, I mean everything, is growing. I see His hand and hear his heartbeat everywhere. Case in point… along the way I have and will continue to do random acts of kindness. Typically these things make me “feel” good. I say to myself, “I will do this or I will do that as a kindness to someone” and perhaps God will be pleased with my good behavior. I think however that I have missed a critical point. Being that in fact God is the initiator and purely through His grace He is inviting me to join Him. Inviting me to be a “willing vessel” if you will, through which He will work.
Now, I know this may not be breaking news to the world. I think most of us believe this at some level, but there are a couple of points that I think deserve noting:
FIRST, I have come to believe that it is the rule and not the exception. The opposite of how most of us live our lives. We tend to dream up an idea that we think will make us happy, do it and then ask God to bless it. This could be the reason we miss out on much of what God has called us to. We are so busy with our agenda that we fail to hear the heartbeat of God and join Him in His work.
SECOND, the idea that God is the initiator takes all of the pressure off of me. I no longer feel the need to be, or do, good. I cannot live up to some artificial law-driven man-made standard anyway. Why would I continually bust my chops trying? I simply need to hear the heartbeat of God and follow Him.
So what does that look like? I think it looks like life lived in tune with God and what he is doing. For example: Allison had a birthday this week. Unlike millions of other women who celebrated their birthday this week, she spent her birthday shopping for a family of small children she doesn’t even know. Grant who heard the first heartbeat had a conversation with a custodian at work. This family was displaced by Katrinna, and can barely make ends meet. Grant heard the need. Then he shared it with us as we celebrated Allison’s birthday Monday night. My first inclination was to say… man, enough is enough. At some point we just need to stop. Almost on queue I could hear God saying, “I’m not quitting now, why would you?”… So we said, well do you think we can get some information? Grant did, Allison shopped and well another family will have Christmas that otherwise wouldn’t.
The best phrase I can come up with is “be a willing vessel”. I think God is just looking for willing vessels.
A couple thousand years ago He asked his one and only Son to be a willing vessel. I picture Him saying, “I’ve got a job and you won’t have all of the details but you’re the only one who can bring my people back to me. Only you can be the redeeming One. It’s up to You.” So Jesus, being a willing vessel, came.
Ever imagined the thoughts that raced through Jesus’ mind at the moment he arrived. So this is what is feels like to be cold… That’s what manure smells like… what’s that in my stomach, oh nothing, that’s hunger… look at me, I’m completely helpless here… I hope these people can hear the heartbeat of my Father… Father…. Are you sure about this?…. OK, let’s do this…. Waaaaaaah……
He came as a willing vessel and then he died as a willing vessel. His coming, the most loving act the world had known to that date. The Cross, what appeared to be the most cruel act the world had known to date was in fact the most loving act the world has ever known. What appeared to be God turning His back and death winning the victory was in fact God being the initiator of the greatest act of kindness ever… initiating the act through the willing vessel Jesus Christ.
We look at the world and we see brokenness, heartache, pain… I believe God sees opportunity. Opportunity for willing vessels to join Him in His master plan of redeeming and restoring. Opportunity for you to know Him more fully… to worship Him fully…
How do we hear the heartbeat of God? I believe God leaves a path that is strewn with mercy, goodness, grace, kindness, gentleness, healing…. Love… Where there is greatest need for these you will find God at work. The path is difficult and messy, littered with trials and suffering, yet covered with opportunity for willing vessels. When the path we travel becomes easy and void of these things, we should stop and listen for the heartbeat of God. He’ll be out there, about His work, expecting you to join Him. It will cost you a lot, actually everything, but in Him you will find more than you ever imagined possible.
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