So I know its been a little while since I've last written a blog so I want to apologize to all you who have been following my journey. I guess I just haven't felt super close to the Lord the past week or so. Not that that shouldn't keep me from writing (if anything, I should probably try to write during those times as I really connect with, learn from, and experience God's presence during these times), but I've kind of just strayed from blogging during this funk that I'm in. Anyway, I introduced my team to you in an earlier blog and I wanted to share with you what are team name means and how it will hopefully be a name that our team really lives out as we embark on the Race in a little over a month (yikes!).
After we formed teams during training camp, each team got together to discuss what they wanted their team name to be. You can pretty much decide on whatever you want, whether it be super-spiritual or more goofy, as long as it's something that you want to be a foundational theme for your team. I remember this was sort of hard for my team as we were getting together to decide on ours. I mean, there's a ton of good spiritual words or meanings that you can use so it's hard to really say if there is a wrong or right one. But after spending some time bouncing ideas off each other, we all decided that "Reckless Pursuit" was something we wanted our team to practice during our time together.
Now anytime you hear the word reckless, I feel like it is often taken in a negative connotation. Reckless driving. Reckless spending. Reckless mindset. It all, for the most part, is taken to be rash or careless or imprudent…in other words, reckless. But as you look throughout the Scriptures and the teachings of Jesus, I don't know if there is a better word that could describe how we should pursue Him. Because when we are reckless in pursuing Jesus, everything else including ourselves becomes irrelevant. You don't recklessly pursue something unless you are utterly unconcerned about the consequences of that action. And when that happens in our relationship with Christ, He becomes greater and we become less (John 3:30).
You see, Jesus doesn't really care about how comfortable we are or how outwardly good we appear or how "safe" our lives are. Don't get me wrong, those things aren't in themselves neccessarilly bad. I've lived in America my whole life and have experienced luxuries that many never have nor will. And that's not sinful. In fact, it's an example of just how much God has chosen to bless me. But I think God cares a lot more about how far and how much we are willing to give up in order to follow Him rather than how "blessed" our lives are.
I'm reminded of the time when the rich young man in Luke 18 asked Jesus what he must do inherit eternal life. This man was nearly perfect in all he did as he lived according to the Law since childhood. But Jesus pointed out,
"You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven."
At this the man's face fell and he went away saddened because he was very wealthy. Here was a man who was successful, had a lot of money, obeyed the Law, etc. but none of that mattered to Jesus; He wanted the man's life. Nothing else matters to him. He's not satisfied with having a portion of one's life or even a majority; He wants it all. He saw that this rich man was holding on to his wealth as an idol, not willing to give it up to the Lord.
What Jesus wants is someone who is reckless, who will give all that he/she is and everything that he/she has to the Lord. Often times this contradicts what the "world" would deem as appropriate or responsible. Is it sensible to give up all your possessions and give it to the poor? Of course not…not by the world's standards. But since when did Jesus care about the world's standards? He operates on His own standards; what may seem "reckless" to the world, might actually be the most "sensible" in the Kingdom of God.
And that's what my team and I want to operate under: the Kingdom's standards. We want to recklessly pursue God in everything that He has planned for us. Already I think we've taken steps just by going on the Race, but even as we are on it I want to grow in surrendering everything to Him and offering my body as a living sacrifice to Him (Rom. 12:1). I don't want to hold on to anything like the rich young man. I don't want to care about what others may think of me. I don't want to care about whether I'm successful or not. I don't want to care about how "comfortable" I am. I don't want to care about how "safe" I am. I don't want to care about being "accepted" by everyone else. I want to only care about following the will of my Father, whereever that may lead me. Because that's the way Christ wants us to follow Him.
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mark 8:34
And through this denial of self and submission to the Lord, we get to experience the abundant life that Jesus offers (John 10:10). So I pray that as my squad/team and I embark on this incredible journey, we will submit ourselves to Him and pursue Him and the people He loves in the only way our world can describe it: recklessly.
