Life

Jesus told us that he came to help us pursue life. Are we pursuing life? Are we really ready to give up our own pursuits and egos to follow God? It is not an easy calling, but is one of perfect peace if we are willing to allow Christ to live life in us and through us.

When Jesus saw that a curious crowd was growing by the minute, he told his disciples to get him out of there to the other side of the lake. As they left, a religion scholar asked if he could go along. "I'll go with you, wherever," he said.
Jesus was curt: "Are you ready to rough it? We're not staying in the best inns, you know."
Another follower said, "Master, excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have my father's funeral to take care of."
Jesus refused. "First things first. Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue life."

Matthew 8:18-22

Here we are reminded that Jesus wants nothing to get in the way of our walking on the path with him. If we are still connected to our self and looking to follow God only to get something in return, we all too often are dissapointed. We usually expect that God is the Cosmic Bell Boy and if we just offer enough tips to him - our good behavior, our giving of money, our reading of the Bible, our going to church - that we can get what we want. Jesus reminds the religious scholar here that truly following God cost us something. We can no longer identify ourselves through the things we have or the people we want to approve of us. We must let go of that ego that wants to look and feel good. Jesus reminds another follower that the purpose of his life is to be about the business of life. Pursue life Jesus says! This is were life is -

If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me. Matthew 10:38-39

Are we ready to set self aside and pursue life? Are we ready to allow our ego to die and Christ to live? Can we trust in Christ to take care of us, to give us life?

Then he got in the boat, his disciples with him. The next thing they knew, they were in a severe storm. Waves were crashing into the boat—and he was sound asleep! They roused him, pleading, "Master, save us! We're going down!"
Jesus reprimanded them. "Why are you such cowards, such faint-hearts?" Then he stood up and told the wind to be silent, the sea to quiet down: "Silence!" The sea became smooth as glass.
The men rubbed their eyes, astonished. "What's going on here? Wind and sea come to heel at his command!" Matthew 8:23-27

The wind and the sea are at God's command. Remember that our God, the Creator of the universe, has everything at command. Yes we can completely trust Christ. The question is are we going to trust were we find life. Do we find it in our daily pursuits to gather and accumilate? Do we find it in the daily connection in God? Do we find life in asking God to meet our needs? Do we find life in letting go of self and meeting the needs of others? Find life today. Let someone in line ahead of you. Help someone who you otherwise would ignore. Give someone a gift and let their joy be yours. Give yourself away today, in some small way. Practice it each day. Pursue life! See if life does not come to you as you lose your life and find the life of Christ.

Namaste'