Last night I watched Texas Tech’s defense totally destroy Michigan State’s offense in the NCAA final four semifinal basketball game. I watched Texas Tech’s Matt Mooney elevate his game offensively and defensively to take over the game displaying courageous leadership. After the game, Mooney was well prepared to take the microphone and give all the glory to God.
I saw Duke’s Zion Williamson do the same thing throughout the tournament. Everyone was in awe of Zion’s first step and thunder dunks. His talent shined beyond what I’ve seen in my lifetime. But when it came time to speak, Zion thanked and praised God for everything. Do you wonder why such talented young athletes can be so incredible in pressure-filled moments and be so profound in their witness? I believe their bodies, minds, hearts, talents, and spirits have been blessed, prepared, and moved by the Holy Spirit. What you’re full of comes out when you’re under pressure.
As I spent this morning in silence, in deep reflection, in biblical searching for transformational truth, I began to ask myself, “Why do I do everything that I do?” I came to these words in Ephesians 5:18. “Let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.” Then God answered my question. I can’t help doing what I do because it’s the Holy Spirit living within me compelling and controlling what I say and do. My thoughts, words, attitudes, actions, tools, and relationships are being co-created for God’s glory.
On many occasions I’ve been given the message to “chill out.” Play it safe. Take it easy. Be like everyone else. But I can’t. I have to be me. I have to be different. Why? Because God doesn’t make duplicates. He fashioned each one of us uniquely to reflect Him living in and through us. No two lives reflect or display God’s Spirit in the same way.
When the Word of Christ, the love of Christ, and the Spirit of Christ dwell richly in our hearts through faith, it cannot be contained! It must have fresh expression and be shared with people. If the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in you, you will have so much power and love that you won’t know what to do with yourself. But God knows exactly what He designed you to do through the power of His indwelling Spirit. You are His masterpiece, created anew in Christ, to do the good things He planned for you long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)
Instead of being at odds with the way God made you, why not ask God to direct and channel your existence into being and doing something different that will change the world. Create what’s new and needed. Meet a need that only you know about and care enough to do something about it. Why did God make you care so much about something no one else seems passionate or willing to do something about? Because he made you to do it! You have to. You can’t help it. It’s what you were made for.
So let the Holy Spirit fill and control every part of your life. Live and do what’s radically different and needed in this world because God’s Spirit lives in and through you. Speak the truth in love. Lavish love and grace where it’s needed most but not deserved. Create what’s missing. Be a real friend to neighbors in need. Hold nothing back. Go all in. And watch what the Lord does in and through you. I dare you to live in reckless abandon to the call of God in your life. The world needs you to be different and to shine God’s light in darkness doing what you were designed by God to do. Go 4 it!