Starting to read another book called, “God has a wonderful plan for your life.” it swings the pendulum from the modern Christian message and tries to get people to understand that the goal of the Christian life is not to be happy.
So often we think that Jesus Christ is in our lives to make us happy and give us stuff. This seems to stem from the fact that the world keeps telling us the same thing about what it can offer. The world reminds us that we are unhappy with what we have and that if we just buy this or get that we will be happy and live a full life.
I guess the world and the modern message are still focussed on one thing, “you”!
Jesus didn’t come to give is life so that we could focus on ourselves again. He came so that we could focus on him and on others. In fact, it seems more appropriate that we focus on others because of what he did for us.
Jesus came to give life and give it more abundantly. The abundant life is not one focussed on ourselves. It is not filled with toys and it certainly not a happy one all the time. Who the heck wants happiness all the time. I for one count it of great value that I have Jesus Christ with me every step of the way. Paul was excited to be in chains for Christ, because he knew that his sufferings made others strong. He also knew that he was never alone.
My daughter often wants to be awesome at everything she does. Let me remind you that she is awesome at lots of things already. She is still struggling with reading and writing fast. I keep telling her that if she wants to do those things fast then she needs to practice them over and over.
This is painful for her. She doesn’t like to practice. Kinda reminds me of myself. I hated practicing. I wanted to play in the basketball game. I wanted to play a concert, not practice.
Practice is not easy but what good ever came from from what was easy. The most wonderful thing about this life is that although we may go through lots of tough times, we are never alone.