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.
