Something occurred to me last weekend: God cares much more about who I am than what I do. With that simple truth in mind, the Holy Spirit revealed that the time leading up to training camp and launch (or any other season in life for that matter) is just as important as our journey on the Race.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
God highlighted this Scripture to distinguish between being and doing. Paul explains that speaking in tongues, prophecy, giving, words of knowledge and words of wisdom as well as faith and martyrdom are all righteous instruments of glorifying Christ. These are gifts we should desire and ones that I want to see manifest more and more in my life.
But without the love of Jesus, they mean nothing.
In other words, if I do all these things yet my heart isn’t surrendered in adoration to my King, it profits nothing. God longs for us to be holy as He is holy, not only to perform the works.
Now to tie it all together, this preparation time isn’t only about getting my supplies, making connections and ensuring every dollar is in my account. It’s about so much more. Rather, the greatest preparation occurs within me. If I witness God provide every penny and more, yet I fret the entire time, I placed my trust and faith in something other than the Lord. If I meet with brothers and sisters about the mission yet don’t align with God’s heart for the nations, I set my own agenda. If I depend upon my knowledge and wisdom, I operate in my own strength instead of Holy Spirit’s.
This time is about knowing who I am and becoming who God created me to be.
God makes all things beautiful in His time and He put eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). He designed us for relationship, to share the intimacy we enjoy in Christ with all creation. The Lord cares about our souls far more than our works, even though we glorify Him through our lives. I want to be as Daddy God defines me: a daughter, a lover, a warrior in His kingdom.
After all, there’s a reason we’re called human beings not human doings.
