" People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart. " (Prov. 21:2)

"I don't think it's wise to date this girl." My mom said.

"But mom, it's an opportunity for me to be a good example. Before we dated she didn't go to church." I argued "I think it's good for her." Oh how noble I tried to make myself sound when in fact the whole relationship was based on my empty, selfish, and arrogant desires. I wasn't willing to admit that my heart and motivation for dating her were self-focused and impure. I wanted to make something I knew was far from God's best for my life sound ok to my mind and to others doubts.

This was years ago and God has show me much wisdom and the fallacies of this reasoning since. First I must say that God has brought me along a deep and enlightening path of knowing His grace and love for me. God showed me that His love truly comes without strings. His grace comes consistently despite my self-focused living. Through circumstances and a book called, "What's So Amazing About Grace" by Phillip Yancey God transformed my heart. I no longer wanted to live by my standards, and I no longer had anything to prove to God. There was nothing I could explain or justify before his truth. I felt peace for once in loving God and then living out of that love. My motivation is love.

The more I seek what it means to live out of love with Jesus the more it changes my perspectives. It changes the way I live as a follower of Christ and it changes the way I think about things. I got into a conversation the other day with a student about whether a certain Christian group should hold their upcoming social event. For this discussion it isn't important what the event is or what they plan to do there. I challenged whether the event was merely an attempt at being culturally relevant and self-serving. What is important is that the student who wasn't even attending the event felt a need to explain why it was acceptable. The main reasons given were: God wants us to have fun and enjoy life, and the event was an opportunity for fellowship. I believe both reasons were shallow and misplaced. In fact these reasons are far too often used incorrectly.

It's true that God wants us to enjoy life. However, lets be reminded about what God says life is. In John 14:6 Jesus makes this statement, "I am the life". We, all to often, take that in a simple salvation perspective. I believe, combined with the many other times Jesus spoke of life through Him, that he was talking, in addition to salvation, about every aspect of existing. In other words Jesus is not saying I will give you eternal life through salvation but the rest of what you do with your time and existence here on earth is your life. This would be a critical and growth- stunting error. The life that Jesus offers is himself in every area, detail, and corner of our existence. When someone says, "God wants me to enjoy life" I venture to bet that they don't mean Jesus, they mean what they think life should be. Our greatest goal for enjoying life should be to enjoy our redemptive, loving, and powerful relationship with Jesus. Jesus is life.

It's also true that God created us to exist in community. We often use the word fellowship to explain when Christians get together. This word however is more often used as an excuse than a reason. Events are seldom planned for specific edifying, God-focused, worshipful unity. They are planned because we think it's a good idea and then we make ourselves feel better by saying it's a good opportunity for fellowship. Fellowship becomes an after-thought reason for events that weren't truly planned for glorifying and enjoying God together. We must be careful that what we plan is in accordance with displaying Jesus and glorifying God. We must plan as God leads and directs. Most common in planning is the strategy of putting together a well organized activity and then praying that God will use it. This thinking is backwards to the life of a follower. When you follow Jesus you ask him what is the best activity to learn, love, and glorify Him and you do that. Then you don't have to pray for God to "show up". You'll know He is already there cause He planned it, you didn't.

You may think I'm being harsh. I'm not criticizing anyone or any group in particular. I'm simply convicted of areas in my life and ministry where for too long I have run the show, argued the reasons, and ask God to show up. Like Paul in Phillipians, I must admit I'm not perfect in this area and I have stood by my fare share of shallow reasons. But as the truth of God challenges and transforms my heart I have a passion to inspire others towards deep and fulfilling Christ-centered living.

What are you doing that admittedly was because you thought it up, you didn't really ask God what He thought? Can we go back to seeking God's best and following that instead of inviting God to attend what we think is worthwhile?

If it isn't from God it's worthless.

- Josh