Stepping Up

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."  ​1 Corinthians 11:1

Do you remember that day when you realized that your life was not your own?  You know what I am talking about.  That day when you saw how your life fits into God's plan and you got the picture that your life matters?  Maybe you are like me and don't have a specific time and place embedded in your memory.  Perhaps it seems like you always had an understanding that your life was part of something bigger than yourself.
 
Regardless of when you came to that knowledge, the fact is that part of the process is stepping up and taking responsibility for our actions.  In doing so, we can then live authentic lives in which our actions are both a blessing to God and others.    No more hiding behind excuses for bad decision making, procrastinating, or simply not doing what we need to do.  We "own" our stuff.  Period.
 
I think many today, Christians and non-Christians alike, lead lives of quiet desperation or futility because they cannot see how they fit into the "bigger picture."  They are stuck in lives that have no significance or power because they don't understand how they are one part of the whole fabric of God's plan for humanity.  
 
I believe that for some, they have never taken ownership for their actions and cannot understand how the outcomes they are experiencing are directly related to them.  Bad choices lead to bad outcomes which lead to a life of frustration and mediocrity.
 
Taking responsibility used to be expected as part of the journey to adulthood.  Today, we see people avoid responsibility.  Whether it's in the home, work, government, or church, it's not uncommon for people to do the minimum, expect to be served, and take the credit while others do the hard work.  It's a shame really when you consider that whole generations are spinning their wheels trying to do so little while avoiding owning their stuff.  If they just hunkered down, took responsibility, and worked hard, they would see progress in so many, if not all, areas of their life.
 
It is easy to see where other people are not doing what they should be doing.  What's harder is being honest with ourselves.  Are we stepping up and owning our own stuff?  Are we being a model for people to emulate?  
 
I think about the apostle Paul when he said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."  It is applicable in this area of life just as much as in the context of Paul's letter to the Corinthians.  We are living examples to those around us.   If we are responsible and owning our stuff, then others will see and will have someone to refer to as they struggle to step up and own their life choices.  
 
I would go so far as to make the case that, in this day and age, responsibility and ownership of your choices are such foreign concepts to so many, that we cannot assume they even know how to get out of the rut.  This is why those of us who are doing better in this area need to encourage those in our lives to set a higher bar for themselves and then show them the way.  Some people are naturally more responsible but most people need to learn what responsibility looks like.  We may be the very person God intends to use in a specific person's life to help them get the traction they need.
 
So with that in mind, do you own your life choices?  Are you being responsible?  To be used by God, we need to ensure that we are stepping up and taking responsibility for our own actions and their consequences.  If so, would you consider being someone who might come alongside another and help them get to where you are at?  Don't be afraid...chances are they’re afraid too!  But God can use you mightily in the life of another person if you are willing to be humble and make your life an open book.
 
You've done a good job of stepping up, so now go and step out into the life of another person and show them what it looks like!  Then step back and watch them bloom.

Pastor Johnnie