Day one of ministry our host in Nicaragua told us… “these next 11 months are about you.” I was confused at first because I thought I signed up for a year of selfless living. Before you get the wrong idea let me explain.
As believers, if we boil our faith down to one mission it would be to receive God’s love and give it away. You can’t give something away that you haven’t yet received or experienced for yourself. The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40) to love God and love others is a call to intimacy. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) to go out and make disciples is a call to fruitfulness. The Great Commandment come before The Great Commission and is an inseparable part. When intimacy with the Lord doesn’t proceed fruitfulness we become easily subject to our own mission and become focused on religious duty instead of love.
If I try to give away God’s love without first experiencing it for myself, I’ll serve with a prideful heart expecting something in return. This year will become a sacrifice instead of a privilege. I will be loving others out of obligation instead of overflow & that’s not a clear representation of our Fathers love.
Here’s an example… you know those fancy water fountains where you put your bottle under them and they automatically fill up. If I try to fulfill The Great Commission before The Great Commandment – I’ll only go to the fountain when I’m thirsty. I’ll fill up just enough water for that day and at the end of the day my bottle will be empty & unfilled. But if I focus on first receiving God’s love I’ll constantly be going to the fountain. My bottle will always be full and if I leave it under there long enough the water will spill over. That’s overflow & that’s what this year is about.
If I make my first focus on myself and my intimate relationship with the father, His love will overflow naturally. I’ll be able to love on all of His people selflessly not expecting anything in return because that’s what He does. So the pressure is off this year to save the nations. My number one focus for the next 11 months is my intimate relationship with the Lord and fruitfulness will naturally follow.
