What would it look like if Jesus were at the center of every piece of your life? To be the breath, the heartbeat, the one single goal and desire of our existence; even if you could picture it, how might you go about putting Jesus at the center of it all?
Often, this concept lives just outside the realm of my understanding. It exists as an ideal that I can’t quite put my finger on. Yet, when I’m still, I know that deep down, my soul longs for Christ to be at the center; even when I can’t fully grasp what that means in practice.
Letters from a potato-cutting monk, known by the name of Brother Lawrence, were compiled into a book titled “Practicing the Presence of God” in which he stumbles through the growing process of learning to walk with God in every moment; the mundane, the busy, the seemingly unholy.
Is this it? Is that Jesus at the center of it all?
A group of dreadlock-wearing, clothes-sewing, homeless-loving Christ-followers settled down in an abandoned building in Philly-Camden to pursue radical generosity, selflessness, fellowship and sustainable living; prompting them to pour $10,000 into the streets during their “year of jubilee.”
Is this it? Is this Jesus at the center of it all?
24/7 prayer breaks out across the world as a few wild and unschooled intercessors inadvertently start the epidemic spread of ceaseless prayer amongst youth. A vision of a sea of worshipers is followed by a vow crying out from a generation of nameless, faceless prayer warriors.
Is this what it looks like for Jesus to be at the center of it all?
Maybe… Probably… But is there more?
What else does God have in store for His people? What if you’re steps away from actualizing a new piece of the Kingdom of God here on earth? God knows the plans He has for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future.
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
The Gospel is not limited to your salvation and promise of heaven when you die. The Good News is that the veil was torn between the people and the holy of holies. We have been adopted as sons and daughters who can approach the throne with confidence because of Christ’s offering on Calvary.
No more required sacrifice for our atonement. No more captivity to sin or to fear. His Kingdom is coming and all His enemies are being put under His footstool, including death.
The Great News is that we have full-access to God through the Holy Spirit, our counselor and helper; moreover, this Servant-King has invited us to be His ambassadors and official Kingdom-bringers. He has written his law on our hearts and given us the mind of Christ that we might obediently walk out the unique piece of the Kingdom that he has placed on us as our life’s calling.
Jesus at the center of it all may look like quiet meditation, a prayer movement or radical generosity; but it undoubtedly looks like you living out a God-given vision on your life.
Be still. Call on Him. Walk it out… Jesus at the center of it all.
