What Does It Mean to be King-spective...

"I'm not coming back for a splintered bride. A splintered church."

Factions. Separations. The word "splintered" means: to cause to break into small, sharp fragments. To separate, typically because of disagreement.

The Bible says there is ONE Lord. ONE faith. ONE Father of all, who is in all. A key word here is the word "WHO".

It's not about the 'faiths' (Mark 12:29-31). It's not about the expressions of it.

"The Lord our God is ONE..."

It's become about so many other things. And God is saying: Bring it back to the ONE thing!

"I don't need you to be introspective. I need you to be Kingdom-spective."

The definition of introspective is someone who looks inward or focuses on their own internal thoughts, feelings, beliefs & motivations. Someone who is always analyzing his own actions.

'Spective': seeing, viewing, or knowledge of how to see

'Kingdom-spective': looks outward towards others, focuses on the needs of the Kingdom of God, & on His thoughts, His feelings, faith, & motivation.

We NEED God's perspective above our own, & allow that to define our internal thoughts, feelings, beliefs & motivations.

This was the message God gave me as I prepared to share at a church here in California last weekend. This is what He's been speaking to me about His church. It's become about buildings, & things. God's church has always been His PEOPLE. Ephesians 2 says we are "the living stones" He is placing together to form a place where He can dwell. Ephesians 3 says that it is through this unity that NOW even powers & principalities would see who He is.

Is it any wonder that so much wars against this? That our own flesh, our own desires & the continual introspection on ourselves & our lives has become the focus instead of the ONE THING we are called to live for? Jesus.

No matter what side of the table we find ourselves on, all of life comes down to Him.

"All of life is learning the BIGGER picture." -God

Remind us again God...WHAT is the hope of our calling? Is it a 'thing' we have wrapped our identities around? Or is it the person- CHRIST.

First & foremost, Father You are forming the character & nature of Christ in us. Help us to choose the place of surrender. Help us to see it. To receive it. To not get ahead of You because we are uncomfortable. To trust that You know what You are doing with our lives. And I heard Him say:

"Can I have it? Your life. Are you WILLING to surrender it? And not just parts. I have more than you could dream of available to you. But will you see the open doors? Or will you constantly look back. (Will you constantly remain offended) You won't see them, the doors, if you're always looking backward. To see them, you need to look FORWARD- AHEAD. And to see them you need to TRUST Me. And that's it. Trust. So simple, but so hard- I know that. Because I made you. I know how you think. I formed that too."

Perspective is a beautiful word. As we, as the family of God, stay at the table & do the hard work of not walking away when we're frustrated, or worse, starting another church I believe we'll see the hand of God begin to move in our families & communities the way we long for Him to. He gives us all the keys in His Word:

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or selfish gain." Do ALL things to the glory of God.