Constant Course Correction

What does it mean to be a Christian?

Let's dispense with the canned answers they teach us in Sunday School... The word Christian shares, like many English words, a Greek origin. Christianos (Χριστιανός), or follower of Christ as it reads in English, is the true definition of the word. So what is a follower of Christ? In typical Jesus fashion, He uses a parable to answer the question.

In John 15, Jesus paints some stinging truth in quite sobering colors: He looks, He does not see fruit, He trashes. If He finds fruit, He'll prune what is there to produce even more. Either way there is pain. Yet the underlying characteristics of this process are mercy and compassion. A bit of my own paraphrase would go something like this: 

My Father and I work together in this garden of ours. We love you so much that we're not willing to leave you sitting there dirty after you've said yes. So every time you keep saying yes to My leadership and you feel pain, remember that pain produces growth and growth produces fruit, a sign of maturity. Don't give up. I've already won. Just remain in Me and you win too, kids. 

We can see from the passage in John 15 that this pruning is a lifetime process. It's not one time and you're done. It's a dynamic, constantly growing and maturing process of consistent surrender! It's all or nothing. Our jealous God is an all-consuming fire. A life surrendered to Christ looks radical to the world. It offends the mind. It's uncomfortable. It requires sacrifice. It comes with persecution. I feel as though I am just now discovering the true Gospel. It's becoming personal. Uncomfortable. But I wouldn't have it any other way: now I'm embracing the brokenness that comes with the authenticity of being transparent and honest before God; I'm learning to let Him shine into my dark, yet lovely heart at greater and greater levels. 
When piloting a boat, the rudder controls the direction of travel. Adjusting this device frequently to port or starboard keeps the boat headed in the proper direction. In the same way, surrender of our lives to God allows for spiritual course correction.  I think this excerpt from an Oswald Chambers devotional articulates well the attitude of our hearts to allow such course correction to take place in our relationships with God:

"Do you have even the slightest reliance on anything or anyone other than God? Is there a remnant of reliance left on any natural quality within you, or on any particular set of circumstances? Are you relying on yourself in any manner whatsoever regarding this new proposal or plan which God has placed before you? Will you examine yourself by asking these probing questions? It really is true to say, “I cannot live a holy life,” but you can decide to let Jesus Christ make you holy. “You cannot serve the Lord . . .”— but you can place yourself in the proper position where God’s almighty power will flow through you. Is your relationship with God sufficient for you to expect Him to exhibit His wonderful life in you?"

 Raw, brutal honesty is cathartic. An authentic, vibrant life is awaiting those who lose control. I want the vibrant life now and the eternal rewards later. I want to abide. I know I'm not alone. Let's get pruned together.