Unstep

Been listening to this over and over again. Wasn't the first time listening to this, but when God says He can show up in anything and everything, you can bet on that. :)

Just done watching a video sermon by Pastor Judah Smith - "Just Tell Me What To Do".

The title of the sermon itself just got me wanting to watch it already! Cause I caught myself saying that quite often. Sermons, lectures and even conversations with people sometimes, I tend to urge myself or people to just tell me what they want to do. Just tell me what they really are thinking and just speak their mind out. Applies to ministry as well, just tell me what to do and I'll just make it happen. It speeds things up. I'll be like HELLO! If it's not obvious enough, there's tons of things to do in the Kingdom of God? Make up your mind and just tell me what to do? Guess that's one of the reasons why I'm so intrigued, absorbed, captivated, attracted, enthralled, interested, fascinated, engrossed by smartphones, my phone in particular. It's reaching people faster and it get things done effectively.

Anyway, back to my point of the sermon. Talks about how humankind would tend to want practicality. We want progress. And we want it fast. Get this thing done then get another thing done next. Who don't? Well, at least for me it is.
People buy books like10 Steps in Maintaining Friendships
People love 3 points sermons.
Students love 4 steps in completing their assignments.

And then Jesus came and frustrates the trend of humankind.
No steps in how to build a stronger relationship with Him.
No steps in how to build a strong local church.
No steps in how to love people more.
No steps in how to do His will.

He just say, I am the Bread of Life. Just trust me.
And that frustrates people like me.

A lot of times in my life, especially in ministry, I'll tend to pray prayers asking God just tell me what He wants me to do. Lord, here I am, SAY SOMETHING!

This sermon reminded me that sometimes it's not about knowing His will, but to know Him.
To be reminded of how a relationship can bring joy and excitement. Remember how you and your partner brings a lot of desire in wanting to make that person happy? Or that simple enjoyment of being around them. What more the relationship with God.

A lot of times Pastor Judah didn't just inspire me with his sermons, but his person, and his passion for God and His people impacted me. During that video sermon, he mentioned about a conversation he had with his wife, Chelsea. The conversation was about them reflecting how much God has done in their lives. Then Chelsea asked Judah what would he want to do for the next 10 years from now. Pastor Judah's answer to his wife humbles me. I was thinking He would say something like:
I'm gonna love the church more. I'm gonna extend His kindgom more. I'm gonna reach more people that don't know about Christ. I'm gonna save more souls. I thought he would really say that, because it really did sound good and right. All of that sound so good and right as a pastor or a follower of Christ.

But his answer was just:
I just want to know Him more. 10 years from now, at the age of 45, I want to be closer to Him. I want to more like Him. I want love more like how He loves.

It brought me back to that place again where God is my Father. Not only He is my Provider, Promiser, Healer. But he is MY Father.

Jesus.
Your Love is a mystery and I am not rushing to understand it fully.
As if I could ever comprehend it wholly.