M3-S2: LIVE AND LOVE GLORIOUSLY

SUMMARY

  • Recalling our discussion of the Imago Dei, we are to live and to love gloriously in the world.
  • God has given each of us people to love.
  • Love is willing and working for the good of that person.
  • God’s glory shines to the degree that we love the people in our world well.
  • Our spiritual formation is not primarily about us, it’s about them.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS

Mark 12:28-34

CONSIDERING OUR KINGDOMS

The first and most important part of our framework begins with the people in our world. We examine where we are in relation to the good life of the kingdom. And as Jesus often reminds us, what matters most is love. And so if our spiritual formation practices are meant to keep us in step with the Spirit, then we begin with where we are and what that means for who we are called to love.

We begin first with where we are with God. How is your desire for God and his kingdom? Does he seem distant or near? No judgment, just honesty.

Then, after we have a sense for where we are with God, we move into a “who is my neighbor” exercise. Who are the people with whom we live and work and play day in and day out? Some we have special responsibility for: spouses and children, or aging parents. Some we have chosen to do life with, like our close friends. Some we are called together with them into mission (that’s our church family). Some we have to work alongside as part of our vocation. But as Jesus shows repeatedly in his teaching and actions, we are called to love the people who are right in front of us.

What if we don’t do this? If we aren’t intentional about choosing to focus on loving God and the people in our lives well, we miss out on what Jesus says is the most important thing in the world: love. At the center of the good life of the kingdom is love, and it’s unfolding right under our noses. Are we open to it? Are we ready to live and love gloriously in our corner of the world, and thereby point the way to life to the full?

This is an exercise of intentionality. Is the urgent swallowing up the important? Am I in a situation that requires all my attention right now? Am I being realistic about my limitations and energy? Sometimes during some seasons of life we may not have all the time and energy we’d like to focus on all the things we think are important (like with a new baby!). But a look at our circumstances and the people we are called to love will remind us what’s important.

Here’s how the exercise works:

  • How is your desire for God and his kingdom? Take just a moment and take stock of where you are in your walk with him.
  • Next list the top three or four things that are taking up your time right now. Which people does this involve? Who or what is taking up your attention and focus?
  • Put these in order of least to most energy and attention required.
  • Now make a list of the 5-10 most significant relationships in your life right now: people over whom you have influence and people who have influence over you. Order these by the level of responsibility you have for them.
  • Now take a few minutes and zoom out, thinking about the relationships and circumstances to which God has called you. What (or who) should be the focus of your time and attention? Is there a difference between this list and the first one?
  • From all this, see if there are 2-3 people or circumstances that you sense God leading you to focus on in the next couple of weeks. What outcomes would you like to see in your relationship or in the circumstance? (Not that you necessarily are responsible for the outcome, that’s where prayer comes in). Think about the outcomes in terms of kingdom resources—let God expand your imagination for what he wants to bring about.
  • Jot down any thoughts or action items and put into practice a mustard-seed small step that represents your part of bringing about the outcome.