The Million Dollar Question about UNITY.

“How do you really get outside the circle and reach? “

That was the question from a fellow blogger I love and respect. And there it sat.  Glaring at me. A nagging feeling that says….

Dust ridden answers are not enough.  Words without living the message…..Useless.  

Husband asking me the other day….

What was it that made Jesus, Jesus. His words alone….or the fact that He did the unseemingly, impossible, unpredictable act of living….outside the walls of the church?

I mean….what is really keeping us back from loving the world?

The question tossed inside my head like a pinball machines, and the only one answer I could think of was…..

Fear.

And I fear a lot.  I think we all do, really, if we are honest with ourselves.

I fear being a writer.  I fear the world knowing that I am more than a mother, church goer, worshiper of Jesus.  Fitting into the model of “safe” Christian.

In fact, I had a blog.  Hidden. Two Facebooks.  Two twitters.  My “real” world and my blog world.  Exclusive.

Until, quite accidently my two worlds suddenly UNITED.

See, I didn’t want the world to see me.  Those deep words from my heart….pouring out onto my blog, while my “normal” circle saw them.

And how often do we hide from people….when “doing church”.  Locking ourselves up.  Recluse.  Trying to protect ourselves.

When we are the light of the world.  The vehicle God has chosen.  To bring about redemption to a dying world….

And fearless people don’t change anyone.  

And sometimes I wonder….

Why do we hide?  In masks? Afraid to unveil who we really are?  

Like me.  The writer.  Once under the cloak of only, “Rich Faith Rising”….

When it’s so much easier….

To just throw gatherings. Attend small groups.  Go to church…..

Without anyone seeing who you really are.

And I guess that’s why transparency and UNITY are two words that burn in my heart.  Because I have lived a masquerade for far too long.  Doing the dance….forsaking my own music.  Trying to play “religion” instead of expressing boldly, clearly, truthfully…..

My desire to save the lost people.  Broken people.  People just like what I used to be….

Before I met Christ.

So, “How do you get outside the circle and reach?”

Here are some thoughts just rolling around my head.  That might help us really “be” Christians outside of the wall of our church…..

• We must first.  Bind up fear.  Embrace who we are in Christ….instead of letting the enemy lie and deceive us.
• We must ask for grace.  Then step out in it…..(no swim in it)…So we can be “real”.  Accept the fact that in and of ourselves, we are far from perfect. And that we are not saved by works but through simply, and only, the righteousness of Christ Jesus.
• We must fix our eyes on His purposes. For when they shift for even one instant.  To ourselves.  We can get caught up in our own purposes. And we quickly lose sight of God’s will for us….“To Go Into All the World and Preach His Kingdom”
• We must humbly.  Daily.  Moment by moment. Seek Him.  For when we are in His presence….we see our weakness.  And His strength shines.  Despite us. When we put the weight where it belongs….on His shoulders.  We find the strength to live outside ourselves for a better cause. 

And then slowly….little by little….our circle then gets larger.  Until we reach the world.

And lastly.  I am thinking.  We must ask for His heart.  Our sin nature will always lead us to look at ourselves.  Shrinking inwardly like a downward implosion that slowly takes charge.  And draws us away from God.

But, when we ask for His heart.  He imparts it.  He shifts our eyes and equips us…..to do more than just “talk Christ”…..but, live it.

Live it bold.  Live it dirty.  Live it fearlessly.  Live it free from man and the worries that creep up so unintentionally.

And by grace He will expand our tent stakes.  He will draw us farther.  And father.  Slowly and slowly….

Away from ourselves.

And as we are faithful.  Slowly.  Our ministry.  Our lives.  And our families.  And the world….Will UNITE.

And we will begin to look. Slowly. Little by little. More….like our Savior, Jesus Christ…..

Out of the circle of self.