President
Obama spoke at the Museo Nacional de Antropologia (National Anthropology
Museum) in Mexico City yesterday. As
teachers, my husband and brother-in-law both served as chaperones on a student
trip to the event. The night before the
speech my husband spoke to me about some of the excitement building among the
American teachers going to the event. He
spoke of their desire to hear Obama speak in person and feel the energy in the
room.
A quick time
out before I go any further…
This blog
post will not be politically charged in any way. I have no intention, at this time, of using
this blog to espouse any sort of political agenda, or even discuss my personal
opinions on politics. So go ahead and
put down your pitch forks or rally signs.
In fact,
here is the most politically charged statement I plan to make: I believe that
Christians are called to pray for and respect the government leaders who are in
power in the belief that 1) they are among our neighbors and our words and
actions towards them should reflect this and 2) God is control of all
things. Consider:
“’Teacher,
which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’
Jesus
replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind.’ This is the first
and greatest commandment. And the second
is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’”
Matthew
22:36-40, NIV
“For unto is
a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.” (emphasis added)
Isaiah 9:6,
NIV
Now that we
have that out of the way, let’s get back to why I started writing this post.
My husband’s
description of the desire to feel the energy in the room; to feel as though you
are a part of something bigger, got me thinking. What if we truly longed for and felt that
same energy in relation to hearing the voice of God?
What if
walking into church on a Sunday morning you felt people fired up to make and
see change happen in the world?
What if when
you prayed at dinner or with your kids before bed you did not come with simply
a list of requests or things you are thankful for, but an expectation to hear
the voice of God and a desire to be a part of his movement? What if you could live out this desire and
pass it on to your children?
What if when
you sat down to read your Bible you were not just completing a step in the
“good Christian life” or seeking out an opportunity to personally grow, but
actually seeking out the words of the greatest leader in history, with a desire
to be a part of his agenda?
I am not
saying that these things never happen within the church and among Christians,
and I realize that going to hear the president of the United States of American
speak can be a novel and exciting event.
But I know that in the day to day I tend to lose sight of the novel and
exciting things that God is doing and
can do in my life and around the world.
It makes me wonder…
What if my
life, as a Christian, was more energized and less cloistered?
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