-Mark 12:30-31
2017 was one of the most unique years I have ever experienced. I lived in Dallas, cooked for myself, and worked full time. Never in my life had I done any of these things for the span of a whole year. I learned how to take care of myself without the help of my family, which was difficult yet rewarding. Living on my own for a year made me realize how much my parents did for me, which I am extremely grateful for today.
As in every year, there were both challenges and successes in 2017. The biggest challenge for me was adjusting to full time work while at the same time taking care of myself. There were times in the spring and summer of 2018 were my workload got very intense, which forced me to work extra hours often. This definitely put a toll on me, as I struggled to find time and energy to do things like exercise, cook, go to the doctor, and most importantly, spend time with God. Rather than do these things, I chose to play videogames, watch TV, or sleep. My mind and body felt so tired, and rather than turn to God I turned to worldly things.
On the flip side, one of the biggest successes was starting Dallas UBF with Jonathan, Karen, Brian, and Scott. None of us had lived in Dallas until roughly two years ago, so I could see God’s hand in placing us all here at this time. I truly believe God has something planned here through us because He has placed each of us here. I cannot lie and say that starting a small house church ministry was easy. In fact, it was often disappointing. Coming from a fairly large church in Maryland, Dallas UBF felt so small despite being in a big city.
Karen would sometimes ask me to go to campus with her to do outreach, and we would spend time praying and talking to students. Many of the students were friendly, but were already attending other churches in the Dallas area. One moment of success was when one student agreed to study the Bible with Karen after we spoke to her on the SMU campus. By God’s grace, Karen also got a job on SMU which allows her to be among the students we are hoping to reach. I pray that I can spend more time going to campus and asking students to study the Word of God.
My key verse for 2017 was Matthew 13:31-32 which reads, “He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.’” My hope for 2017 was that through consistent Bible reading and prayer, God would grow the seed of His Kingdom in my life.
Unfortunately I cannot say that I was very consistent in my quiet time with God. However, despite my shortcomings, I believe God was helping me grow. Through the Mid-Atlantic Summer Bible Conference, I was convicted to being writing down my struggles in a journal. I have never been very good at journaling, so it was hard for me to keep doing it. As I started writing my thoughts, I realized how much I needed God’s grace. I prayed for Him to guide me and help me overcome my struggles with sin.
On the final days of 2017, I was given the privilege to help lead worship at Washington UBF’s youth group retreat. I was encouraged to see students from the east coast chapters come together to hear God’s Word. The speaker was Richard Lee, who I thought did a great job inspiring the students to love God’s Word. As the students understood more of God’s heart through His Word, I saw a noticeable change in their attitude during worship. They began to sing out rather than stand there silently. I also believe I saw their genuine hearts in prayer during the ministry times. I hope that they would continue to hunger after God in 2018.
One thought that stuck out to me at the retreat was that we are not slaves of God, but sons of God. A slave receives a wage for his work, but a son receives an inheritance regardless of his work. A person who tries to earn God’s favor as a slave will never experience the inheritance and joy of God. They will spend their entire lives trying to work for God’s love, never realizing that God’s love is not earned. On the other hand, a son of God already knows the Father loves him. Instead of working to earn God’s favor, they work as a response to God’s love. A lover will always outwork a worker.
My key verse for 2018 is Mark 12:30-31. Prior to these verses, Jesus is asked what the greatest commandment is. He responds by saying: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” I want to hold onto these verses in obedience to God’s command. Jesus proclaims that these are the greatest commandments because “All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments (Matthew 22:40).” Everything that God commands us to do is based on our love for Him. If we try to earn God’s favor without love, our lives will be miserable. However, if we do everything out of love for God and other people, our lives will be filled with joy.
I used to wonder why Jesus doesn’t simply say that the greatest command is to “love God and love others.” Why does He say “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”? A year or two ago I came to an understanding of why God wrote the commandment in this way. If you consider the essence of a person, you must consider these four things- physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual nature. When Jesus tells us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, He is saying to love God with our entire being. We cannot leave out any part of ourselves when loving God.
The best way to love God in this way is through worship. Worship is the best way to engage the entire nature of our being as an act of love. Ravi Zacharias often says this quote about worship that I really love: “worship is the submission of all of our nature to God, quickening of conscience by His holiness, nourishment of mind by His truth, purifying of imagination by His beauty, opening of the heart to His love, and submission of will to His purpose. All this gathered in adoration is the greatest expression of which we are capable.” My hope for 2018 is that I spend more time each day in worship to God as a response to His love for me. I want to love God and love others with all of my being.
-Smart
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