More. More than we ask or imagine. We sing it often. Sunday at our Florida church was no different. “We want more. We want more” I was swaying and singing with all my heart. And the Spirit just interrupted my moving with one startling question. More of What?
I stopped swaying.
More of You? I said, weakly. I have thought and taught for years that we can have as much of God as we will receive. Today, that thought didn’t ring quite clear enough. Again the Spirit prodded.
Yes, I understand, but what part of More of Jesus do you want?
My mind flipped through answers like flash cards. More mercy? More wisdom? More patience? Oh, I know… More love. There. That’s the answer, I thought, relieved.
On another day, perhaps. But in this moment, while the congregation was singing about revival and stretching their hearts and hands toward heaven, the cry for more seemed— lacking. Aching. Groaning for truth.
I stood still, listening carefully to the Spirit’s revelation.
In my mind’s eye, I saw a carpenter using a router to create channels in a beautiful piece of wood. With each layer, the tool cut deeper into the grain and formed an intricate design.
As I watched, the sawdust swirled as the tool moved into grooves, cutting away the unnecessary.
The Spirit spoke to my spirit in concepts, not human words.
We say we want more.
God wants us to want less.
We say we want to be like Jesus.
God says we have the mind of Christ.
Already full of the measure of God. We say we give Him everything.
God says surrendering what He gave us first is not sacrifice.
We say we want to be obedient.
God says He wants us to be devoted.
We say we want to live for Him
God says He wants us to live as Him. In Him.
The wood says, I want to be useful and beautiful and needed and admired.
The carpenter says, I want to cut away the excess and engrave my image so deeply into the wood that nothing else matters.
Selah.
As I have pondered this time in worship, as well as our church culture, our Christian conversations, and our frail attempts to be followers of Jesus, I keep asking the same question, “Father, are we even close to real?”
Do we actually love those who curse us and talk bad about us?
Do we actually give up our plenty for someone who has lack?
Do we actually hunger for perfect love instead of feeding our fear?
Do we actually allow the Holy Spirit to overflow with hope and healing instead of talking about sin management and serving?
Let’s keep this simple. God is love.
If we truly want more, then more of the Living God, should make it impossible for us to stay the same.
This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.
1 John 4:17 NIV