Against Compartmentalization
Tonight in small group we talked about Daniel in the lions’ den. A story we all know from childhood and know by heart. The point got brought up that the king clearly saw God through Daniel. He referred to God twice as the one Daniel served so faithfully. He saw God through Daniel. Our college minister proceeded to ask in some fashion this question: how do people see God according to our lives?
How would someone describe God if the only knowledge of Him they have is through your life?
As we talked about this all I could think about is all I’ve learned of Mr. Chad Stewart this week and all that people have said about him. I can only imagine the number of lives God is changing and will continue to change through Mr. Chad’s life. He is changing mine every day through him. As an outsider looking in, Mr. Chad’s life challenges me to think about this question: Do you compartmentalize God? So many people have situations they believe God shouldn’t be brought up in. God shouldn’t be talked about at work, God shouldn’t be mentioned in casual conversation, God shouldn’t be mentioned at sporting events, etc. Whatever the case may be, society has made it so that God is God at church and that’s fine but that He has no other place in our lives. This isn’t how Mr. Chad lived, this isn’t how Daniel lived, this isn’t how Jesus lived.. everything Jesus did was about God. Is everything you do about God? It should be. Every breath we take should be about God. Every single step, thought, word, breath we take and make should have God at the front, in the beginning, God should be the reason.
How would someone describe God if the only knowledge they have of Him is through your life?
God is for church? God is the one whom you so faithfully serve? Does your life challenge others to live a life of faith in Jesus Christ? Does your life have evidence that Jesus loves you? That you serve Him? Do you live every part of your life for Jesus Christ?
If you are a Christian, you are called to be the body of Christ. That’s whether you’re a pastor or a Chickfila worker. An attorney or a tennis coach. A mom or a doctor. Your entire life is about Christ. Jesus didn’t give up His entire life for you to only have His way in church, in Bible study, in worship. He gave up His entire life for you to give up yours. God doesn’t deserve a box. Maybe you keep your work at work and your home at home.. but don’t keep your church at church. God goes everywhere with you. He wants to be everything in your life. Will you let Him?
“The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9
How would someone describe God if the only knowledge they have of Him is through your life?