Disciples

"God is not waiting on a future version of you to love." - Mason King

____________________

I snagged a book this past week I hope is going to be compelling. It came recommend by someone I read on SubStack. To be honest, Amazon had it on sale so I snagged the Kindle version. I am a sucker for a deal, and anything on spiritual disciplines. The book is...

Spiritual Disciplines: How to Become a Healthy Christian 

Immediately, I started reading it. I made it 5 sentences when I put the book down and teared up when I read this quote.

"...God is not waiting on a future version of you to love."

Mason King hooked me. I couldn't stop reading. However, I did pause when I started in on Chapter 1.  Mason argues that generations before us had been in search of the "good life."  In our modern age, the packaging is just different. Here is the list he shared of what we are served on social media silver platter and the like.

Materialism (I am what I have)
Consumerism (I am meant to acquire)
Perfectionism (I am what I do)
Rationalism (I am the final word)
Stoicism (I am unaffected by you)
Romanticism (I am my emotions)
Hedonism (I am my greatest pleasure)
Postmodernism (I am what I say I am) 


Now, I would add a ninth option. I call it...

Athleticism (I am my shape or athletic ability). 

This is just a side note, though this mind set has been driving millions over the last 100 years, especially parents.

What is the point of this list?

It exposes our heart. At best it helps locate the idols of our hearts or the false saviors we tend to trust. After which located we can begin to do some spiritual gospel-centered work.

Now to my questions.

Look back over the list.

Which of these has dominated your life?  
Which narrative have you bought into hoping it will finally bring lasting happiness?  
Which "I am" statement bests fits in a specific season of your life?

Do you have a pretty solid answer?  

"God is not waiting on a future version of you to love."

So much gospel truth in that sentence isn't there?  This became crystal clear to me on Monday, while I was reading Psalm 103.

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9  He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10  He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11  For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12  as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13  As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
14  For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.

WOW! Now read verse 17.

17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,

Now that is good news. His steadfast love is from everlasting to everlasting!

If you have tried the modern form of happiness or pleasure seeking only to be left empty, there is an invitation to be a disciple of Jesus. If you looked to some temporary fix that only left you with a black hole of shame and guilt, the invitation is to follow Jesus.

That was his invitation wasn't it?  

For further reading go to John 1:1-14; Hebrews 1:1-12; Colossians 1:15-20.