Buckle up - this is part two. Go read part one if you haven't.After asking the questions from before, now what? What’s the plan? Will you avoid nudges from God or radically throw yourself in the direction He’s pointing you, any way you can? Who will you tell so that you actually follow through all year? What will you do today?
Enough questions... start running the bases.
You’re likely familiar with how a baseball diamond works. Use it as a metaphor to grow - as the "bases of Fully-Alive Living":
- H: Christ – come as you are to Him today, and make Him your Savior/Lord over the direction and details of your life.
- 1: Character – let the Holy Spirit “have at you” from the inside-out as you put Him first in all things.... not just first, but first in all things.
- 2: Church community – grow w/others in large, medium and small gatherings.Why? Because you have blind spots, and only others can see them. A church is meant to nurture those with encouragement and truth.
- 3: Calling – find your “circle” of gifting and influence.
- H: Christ – home plate comes around again, just like you need to take another step with Him, including intentionally sharing Him with others you can help “run the bases.”
- Baselines: This journey isn’t just about the defining moments when you feel you’re “on base,” but also the journey that gets you there. You’ll need to invest into people, programs and practices that will help you keep moving forward while you help them keep moving forward.
Here's the deal - you have to run these bases in the right order. The world runs it backward. Don’t fall for the trap of putting work/ministry ahead of community, community (church) ahead of character, or character (morality) ahead of Christ. God isn’t just looking for “good people” who do “good things” – come as you are, take your next step with Him, and BE the Church.
Today's step: Take this all in, and take on whatever it takes on what you sense God is saying or guiding you to do next.
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." (Philippians 2:12)
