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If It's All About God And None of Me: What About Me?

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• published: 24 Apr 2014
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http://basrijksen.com/ - Have you ever wondered "If the Christian life is all of Him and none of me, what about me now? If I no longer live, but Christ lives in me what about my desires, my goals, my ambitions?" Someone told me, "It seems if our identity is now completely in Jesus it makes me feel that I am living someone else's life. Now, amazing and glorious as Jesus is, I want to have and live my own life." Have you ever felt that way too? Someone who's been going to church for a while usually has been made painfully aware that it's all about God and none of us. Left confused we wonder "But, what about me? Do I not matter in God's economy? Should I die daily? Must I decrease so He can increase? Must I sacrifice my dreams and desires on the altar to follow Jesus?" The answer to all these questions is: No. (These statements are usually taken out of context and don't mean what we often think they mean). However, these are logical questions that stem from an ugly and misguided belief. And that's the religious lie that says the Christian life is "all about God and none of me." When you refer to that old-selfish-sinful-self than indeed it's not about me. But God emptied heaven - emptied Himself - to enter my human existence and ever since it has been all about me too. God invested everything He is, everything He has, to be in you, as you. By grace, you are brought into a perfect, uninterrupted union with your Maker. His life has become your life. His nature has become nature. Don't you think that perhaps it is all about you? Let me tell you a secret. The truth is that from God's perspective IT IS ALL ABOUT YOU! Now obviously when you're in love it's always about the other person. And so for God it's all about you, but for you it's all about Him. Because you've come into union with God through Jesus Christ it is all of Him ánd all of me (1 Cor. 6:17)! Christ is not just in your life, but instead it is Christ as your life that defines your identity (Col. 3:3-4). In Him we live, move and exist (Acts 17:28). So it is all of Him in us, but also all of us in Him due to our uninterrupted union with our Maker. Your Christian life is not all of Him and none of me. This is a tricky lie that can lead to passivity, confusion and despair. Some songs aren't resembling truth but rather empower lies. Take the song that goes, "It's all about You, Jesus. And all this is for You. For Your glory and your fame. It's not about me." Yes, we know Jesus is the focal point of history and our lives, but to say "it's not about me" is an insult to the work and Person of Jesus who brought us into a glorious union with the Father. Some might say, "I still believe it's all about God" I agree. It is all about Him. I mean, He is the Creator, we are the created. For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things (Rom. 11:36). God is the initiator of all things therefore everything finds its relevance only in Him. However, the other side of the coin is that you've become like Him in spirit and that you are a partaker of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)! Therefore, everything that's true about His nature is true about your nature -- your spiritual self. Talking about being valuable, awesome and beautiful! Ok, but what about our natural self? Where do my dreams, talents, ambitions and goals fit into the picture? Living your live to the fullest is when you're allowing Christ to express His life through you, taking full advantage of your own unique natural talents, interests, strengths and ambitions. It's like the sun shining through a stain glassed window. The sun is doing all the shining, but the beautiful colors being projected on the other side are because of the unique, amazing design of the window. Here's what it means. The sun is the life of Christ. Your natural self (soul and body) is the window. The unique design in the glass represent your personality, gifts, dreams, desires, goals and ambitions. The beautiful colors is what you create and accomplish in your life. Because God gave you specific talents, interests, dreams, desires, strengths, likes, dislikes, skills, etc., He didn't intend for you to ignore them, leave them unused or sacrifice them on the altar. No not at all! He wants you to fully embrace your natural self in the context of your spiritual self. He wants you to pursue your God-given dreams and desires in order to enjoy what you absolutely love to do. Website: http://basrijksen.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/basrijksendotcom Twitter: https://twitter.com/BasRijksen Google plus: https://plus.google.com/+BasRijksen YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/M27138 To get regular updates and an eBook for FREE subscribe on: www.basrijksen.com