“Sacrifice is not in the vocabulary of Romantics and Lovers!"

“Sacrifice is not in the vocabulary of Romantics and Lovers!” What a significant and profound statement; one of many Nick Davis charged us with as leaders this past weekend. Consider that a moment … as God is moving us ,as His ‘called out ones’, into the wild and breathtaking expanse of Revelation, Transformation, Demonstration and Reformation in this world, He is calling us to Kingdom feats that require dramatic decisions of us all. He does not stand looming over us with a pointed headmasters finger demanding change for Kingdom’s sake; rather, He comes along side us as the Great Shepherd and leads us on with His Love. His eyes are the window to our future, and as we intentionally and passionately gaze up, we, like Paul,will say, ‘ Christ’s love compels me. ‘
The Father recently showed me that, in enlarging our hearts for the future, there are two ways. One is His way, the other carries the guise of religion and leads to human effort. I’ll start with the last …
Here, we see and know what is right, and through devotion, we make room for the things of God in our lives. This is not all that bad, but God has a better way that has lasting life-giving fruit. If we find ourselves in this first place, all the decisions we make will seem like sacrifice, but, again, he has a better way ….
Here, Father God delights us with a deeper and more intimate ‘knowing’ of Him; and His delighting of us with Himself gives natural birth to spontaneous devotion. Romance!! This one takes a little more time as we marinate daily in His presence and in moments together called church meetings; ah, but here, all seemingly sacrificial decisions become moments of ’starry-eyed’ obedience, because we ’see’ Him and lose sight of ourselves!
So, 1. a quick-fix devotional sacrifice, or 2. a patient marinating where He increasingly delights us with Himself and we can’t help respond.
Didn’t He say after all, ‘obedience is better than sacrifice’! I vote for God’s Delight that leads us into Devotion!!!!
Mountains of love on your heads,
Ryan