What Really Inspires...?

True Joy - George Bernard Shaw
[Source: "Seeking Peace" by Johann Christoph Arnold, from DailyDig]

This is the true joy of life, the being used up for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live.

Life is no “brief candle” to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.

We prove time and again that we won't move as individuals until we have to. Usually, there's no compelling reason big enough to get moving. That's why we see ourselves as slackers when someone mentions prayer time, or reading the Bible, or serving the community. That's why the bulletin is never read and the announcements are ignored. We're not sufficiently inspired by a "mighty purpose" - or, if we are, we do move toward that thing with all that is within us.

I'm inspired to work towards a conviction that's summed up from this phrase above: "I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live." By rule, I don't work hard - I'm like everyone else, doing enough to get by. But that's not real living, and that's not abundant life. If that's what Jesus came to bring, then I've got to accept it and live that thing out...

Here's another Daily Dig from over the weekend:

First To Be Judged - Christoph F. Blumhardt

There are parties in Christendom who are already rejoicing that they will be transfigured and float up to heaven. But that is not the way it is. Now is the time to take upon ourselves a work in which we are the first to be given into judgment, not the first to have a sofa in heaven. For only those who are truly first--first to stand before the Savior in judgment--can become tools to further his work among the rest of humankind.

I don't want to just be "first to the couch" in heaven.
- posted by Rick @ 10:44