Living As If
The giver of all things is asking you: “would you be my body? Would you be my temple? Would you be my representative? Would you take up authority in my kingdom?
The best part about laying down our pride, control, and even our best laid dreams before the feet of Christ is that he gives in return a whole new, beautiful life to us. It’s not simply that Jesus wants to use us for his ends, but that Jesus wants us in on his secret plan. The best part about being willing to be “broken” against Christ the cornerstone is that he is a master builder and artist who specializes in making broken things whole again, better than they were before. And he isn’t a contractor who is interested in data points, he wants the stones for his new temple to be “Living Stones”, that is, stones that are full of vibrancy and joy.
This contrast can be seen in two poems, both playing off similiar ideas. On Sunday we considered how Rudyard Kipling’s famous poem If is actually quite anti-gospel: it teaches us that we must “fine tune” our life in order to get it just so, before we can inherit the goodness of the world. This is the kind of framework the enemies of Jesus were assuming. If they could just get it together enough on the outside, they would be gifted with everything they ever wanted: power, possessions, security, and authority.
But the way of the gospel is that the kingdom is a free gift. It is given to those who, in humble dependence and poverty of Spirit, almost can’t believe that they would be granted anything at all. The kingdom still asks of us to build and lay down and give and serve—but it does so from a place of assumed dignity. Consider this second poem as a response to the first. It’s called As If, by my favorite living poet, Malcolm Guite.
Matthew 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
The Giver of all gifts asks me to give!
The Fountain from which every good thing flows,
The Life who spends himself that all might live,
The Root whence every bud and blossom grows,
Calls me, as if I knew no limitation,
As if I focused all his hidden force,
To be creative with his new creation,
To find my flow in him, my living source,
To live as if I had no fear of losing,
To spend as if I had no need to earn,
To turn my cheek as if it felt no bruising,
To lend as if I needed no return,
As if my debts and sins were all forgiven,
As if I too could body forth his Heaven.
Yes, the giver of all things is asking you: “would you be my body? Would you be my temple? Would you be my representative? Would you take up authority in my kingdom?” Rightfully, as those who know our own sin and limitations, as those who have set aside pride, we might say: “As if!” But if we are those who also have set aside our desire for control and even our dreams, if we are those who are willing to broken in order to be built, and to die in order to live, if we live like those who really believe the impossibility of the gospel to be a true impossibility, we can finally be those who are ready to “body forth Heaven.”
After all, Jesus said something like this once: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth!”
In Christ,
Pastor Drake
Current Sermon Series: The Gospel of Luke
Luke’s gospel was written so that we might have certainty concerning what we have been taught: that Jesus really is the Christ of God, the one we’ve all been waiting for. By closely examining the life and teachings of Jesus, we learn his of his heart for us and the way of following him.
Last Sunday at Grace
Last Sunday, Pastor Drake preached from Luke 20:1-18. The path to enmity with God is a slow one, but we don't need to take any further step in that direction today. Jesus is calling us to give up our pride, our control, and even our dreams — so that in our brokenness he can build us into a holy dwelling place for his Spirit.
Next Sunday February 23, 2025
The Seventh Sunday of the Epiphany | Luke 20:19-21:4 | Drake Osborn
Set List
Psalm 34 (Taste and See)
Christ Our Wisdom
He Will Hold Me Fast
How Rich A Treasure We Possess
Take My Life And Let It Be
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The Table Women’s Fellowship, Feb 28 or March 7
Enjoy a night of fellowship by gathering for dinner with 5-7 other Grace women at various homes of members. All you need to do is sign up and we will contact you!
Ash Wednesday Service, March 5, 6:30pm
Join us as we welcome the season of Lent together. Lent is a time of repentance, fasting, and prayer, in preparation for the great feast of the resurrection. Service is 45 mins. Childcare will be provided for kids 4 and under.
Men’s Retreat, March 21-22
All men college aged and up are invited to this time of community, teaching, and communion with God. The retreat is at Riverbend in Glen Rose, Tx. Cost is $75 and scholarships are available on request. Author Jeff Medders will be teaching on Biblical spirituality.
College Gathering, March 4, 7pm
Join other college students for corporate worship and a discussion on work and rest. Please email jake@gracewaco.com if you are in need of a ride.
See you Sunday!
Equipping Hour | 9am
Corporate Worship | 10am
4610 Bosque Blvd
Waco, Tx 76710