In Tune With God

I was asked to play the guitar for worship this morning.  I overlooked in testing if the strings were in tune and just went right into playing. I later noticed that the 2nd string was off key. It was impossible to adjust the strings in the middle of the song. In short, the songs went on while bearing with one string that was out of tune.

Just like in our Christian living.  We can go on following Christ, but many of us still have a part of our lives that is not attuned with the Lord.  We may go on serving Him while we have issues with purity or other sins that we find hard to surrender.  The result is a service that fails to reach its true potential. We can still do the usual things we do for the Lord, but the impact of a service derived from a life fully "in tune" with God is a far cry from a service born out of a compromised or "off key" Christian lifestyle.

The product of an off-key Christian lifestyle are:
Energy leak.  Our strength is being drained by this part of our lives that refuses to yield to God.  And when we are empty, we tend to "borrow strength" from hyping up or psyching up ourselves for the work ahead or a talk or sharing you have to give.  In the end we are tired, and will even seek strength in other vice-based "unwinding."
Loss of passion. We will tend to focus on our unworthiness more instead of a God who will love us and raise us up.
Eventual backsliding. When we feel drained, empty, and unworthy, the next is to withdraw.  The devil eventually wants us to get out of our commitment to Christ and will feed us "logical" excuses like, "Without my service, I can have more time for my family" or "The money I spend in the community can be better put in another investment."

 So, it starts with a compromised Christian living and ends up in Eventual Backsliding. So how do we combat this?  I have three suggestions:

1. Tune in to God daily. One day without prayer is enough for the devil to feed us with scheming thoughts. If we tune-in to God through faithful prayer, we will be strengthened and nourished.
2. Decide to Yield. Surrender to God that aspect of your life that compromises your Christianity. It is by the strength of the Spirit that we are to overcome.
3. Be accountable to somebody you trust. Have someone that will not hesitate to correct you and tune you back in harmony with the Lord.  People who refuse correction are most prone to compromise.  Humility will put our lives back in tune with God.

It takes time to tune a guitar and it is dependent on the sound of other strings to get that off-key string back in harmony. If you are a guitar player, you will only strum your guitar strings with gusto and passion when you know that each string is in tune.  Let us serve the Lord with maximum impact by living a life fully attuned to God. 

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him (2 Chronicles 16:9).

The Missionary Lifestyle

We're getting ready for Myanmar! I'm with SFC Backpackers.  In the same week, there are mission teams who are backpacking to Chiang Mai (Thailand), Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.  These mission volunteers spend for their own fare and food.  They take time out from their work and give time for the Lord's work.

Is it possible for Christians of today to make Mission as part of their lifestyle? I say Yes!

Today is Mission Sunday. Our concept of missionaries are priests, nuns, and brothers.  The clergy comprises only of less than 1% of the whole Church.  Isn't it only logical that we, the lay, should respond urgently to mission since we are the rest of the 99% of the Church?

I believe that the efforts of these young missionaries will snowball into a whole new lifestyle for Christians...the Missionary Lifestyle.  What exactly is the Missionary Lifestyle?

1. A Lifestyle of Witnessing
This is everyday evangelization.  Witnessing is about living in the power of the Holy Spirit. Witnesses talk with their actions.  Others are attracted to become Christians because of the example of the witness.  A missionary lives out Christ's mission at home and in the workplace.

2. A Lifestyle of Empowerment
A Missionary is dependent on the Holy Spirit.  He is humble enough to admit that he is just an instrument and the Spirit will bring forth great results. This is as long as the missionary makes himself available. Available for God's Power. He applies this principle of Empowerment even in his work and relationship with others.

3. A Lifestyle of Great Adventure
He is willing to be sent.  He puts mission first, then leisure later.  Some are choosy in their mission assignment and puts forth many conditions.  My leader once said, "If you choose your area, then you are a tourist." A lifestyle of great adventure awaits the missionary.  He can only plan his best, but God will never fail to surprise us and bless us when we do His work.

The missionary lifestyle is a counter-culture of today's "Me Lifestlye." The missionary lifestyle talks about giving and sacrificing. While the Me Lifestyle is more of taking and self-indulging. But what we are not aware of is that the more we think only about ourselves, the more we are missing out of what life has to offer.

Let us Go Out into the World like these Backpackers! This is the new generation of missionaries. All out for God, all out for His mission!