Why Not Be Consumed?

Once a young disciple visited an aged monk who lived in the desert. The monk had a reputation as one who knew the heart of God. He was gentle, kind, and always willing to serve and to listen to the hurts of others. 

When he entered the cave, the young man found the small, frail, old man. The monk asked how he could be of help and the young disciple said, “Sir, I want to be a true follower of Jesus–one who knows his heart.” 

“What is your discipline, your rule, my son?”

“Well, I read my chapter, I say prayers, I give to the poor, and I attend the services.”

The little monk smiled and then slowly stood up. As he stood he stretched out his hands and gradually the little old man didn’t seem so little–his presence seemed to fill the cave, his eyes lit up, and his finger-tips seem to burst with light: a holy flame! 

“Why not, instead, be consumed?” he asked.

Too often Christianity has been perceived as a pep rally on Sundays followed by whatever on Mondays. In America we live in a society where still the majority claims to be Christian but lives don’t seem to be any different. It is a world where Christians are perceived to be no different than anyone else.

I really don’t think any of us want to be this way. We want to be different. We don’t want to be satisfied with a little devotional here, with being generally nice and polite there—we want to be consumed!

I think of an interpreter friend who has spent the last few years going back and forth from the Ukrainian controlled side of Donetsk to the separatist controlled side delivering food to those in need–food he bought with his own money. He’s been arrested and interrogated more than once. He also provides funds for adolescent orphans going through trade school–to help them with their living expenses.

I think of several young adults who serve as our interpreters who also dedicate their lives as volunteer mentors for children in Ukraine. I picture Anne Boyd, a beautiful lady who has dedicated her life to the poor in Kovosna County in Romania. She is in her 80s and if you were to ask her when she is going to retire, you’d be told in no uncertain terms that there is no word in the Greek or Hebrew for “retirement”!

Then there’s Madeline in Romania who has risked the ire of her family (and her physical well being) to follow Jesus. There is Massoud who is risking his very life by leaving Islam to become a follower of Jesus. His dream is to return to his country of origin to share this new life of joy he has found!

You can think of others, too! People who are single-minded in their focus–who have purpose and who aren’t going to give up.

These are people who know what it means to be consumed. I think they learned it from someone else who was consumed with God’s kingdom: the one we call Jesus. Philippians 2 sums up his life—he did not consider equality with God something to exploit but he emptied himself and became a slave—for us. Why? Out of love. Every choice he made—read the gospels and you can see it—centered around rescuing his creation. The times he healed people—it wasn’t to prove he was God—it was because, as God, he loved his creation and was moved to heal it.

And this is what he calls us to. To be consumed, like he was. But how do we do this? First of all it is a supernatural job—we have to be open to God’s Spirit at work within us. But there is one main thing, if we really grasp it, I believe will make everything fall into place.

Not easily into place because none of this is easy!

Are you ready?

Love.

 That’s it. Jesus nails it in Matthew 22:36-39 with the great commandments: love God and love your neighbor. You get this straight—everything falls into place. Paul says it, James says it, John says it—it is this love for neighbor that fully wraps up what following God is all about.

I’m not talking about some nice feeling. I’m not talking about tolerance. I’m talking about a serious, gutsy, decision to do what is best for others: a love of others that is built on the foundation of love for God.

This kind of love catches you on fire. You start seeing hurt and you ache to bring healing. You see loneliness and you are compelled to bring kindness. You see hatred and you burn to sow peace.

When you give yourself up to love, when you truly begin to focus on others—for the sake of Jesus—it will catch you on fire!

So, are you content to read your chapter, give some money, sing some songs, pray, and go to church? Why not, instead be consumed?

There are many opportunities to serve others. If you are reading this blog you have already shown yourself intrigued by what we do in Ukraine. I hope you will consider giving your time to serve children in Ukraine. Will you take the sacrifice to serve? Will you give up your time? Are you willing to wear yourself out for kids in the name of Jesus?

Then perhaps you need to consider spending some time in Ukraine this next Summer! We’re recruiting volunteers for the Summer of 2017. Are you willing to be consumed for kids?

Think about it!