IN US AND THROUGH US

For today’s message I am inspired by Erwin McManus, pastor of Mosaic, and of course our friend Thomas Merton, as I expand on the concept of experiencing solitude as a step toward giving of ourselves.

“The Christian solitary does not seek solitude merely as an atmosphere or as a setting for a special and exalted spirituality. Not doesn't he seek solitude as a favorable means for obtaining something he wants--contemplation. He seeks solitude as an expression of his total gift of himself to God.”

- Thomas Merton

God works wonders through us.

Let’s take a closer look at the familiar message of “the Loaves and the Fishes.” We think of this event as God (through Jesus) miraculously feeding thousands with five loaves of bread and two fish. But let’s look closer...

“Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. “ -Matthew 14:19

“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people.” -Luke 9:16

Jesus did not feed the thousands. His disciples did. He empowered them to feed the thousands.

If we want to make the world a better place, we often ask God for the things we think the world needs:

“I pray that my friend Joe will find consolation.”

[We’d like God to console Joe.]

“God, please send food to the poor children in our community.”

[We’d like God to feed them.]

Yet, as we learned through our closer look at the Loaves and Fishes miracle, God works wonders through us.

If you feel like what you want to do requires you to find God, perhaps you just need to find yourself. Pray to unlock your potential and you will expand your influence. Pray to unleash yourself and you will expand your compassion.

If we’re asking for things for ourselves, we will likely receive them in order to give them. If we’re asking for accomplishments for ourselves, we will likely acquire skills in order to use them to lift up those around us.

We cannot use spirituality to abdicate responsibility. So let us enter solitude... let us commit to a time each day to set aside the things we think we need to do... with the precise intent to discern what it is we are meant to do. To expand our character, our influence, and our footprint on the world, let us ask God to do things in us, and through us, not just for us.