I first started following (really following) the Lord when I was 19 years old.  I began meeting with one of my college friends to read and discuss a book called Discipleshape: 12 Weeks to Spiritual Fitness.  Though I don’t remember much about the book now or even know if it is full of good theology, one quote from that book has stuck with me: Compare yourself to no one but Christ Jesus.  As a girl who had gotten herself into a lot of sinful trouble by comparing herself to others and the cultural standards around me, this idea was revolutionary to me.  I was supposed to compare myself to Christ… the perfect son of God… the one who died for my sins then rose again to save me from Hell?  Well, of course I would really fall short in comparison to Him, right?  Yep… my actions do fall strikingly short of those of Christ.  So why do I get so much peace when I’m comparing myself to Him and not others?  Because He is the true standard of what Father God expects from me.  He is not a false standard influenced by Satan and the flesh.  Jesus is also the FULFILLMENT of the standard for ME.  *Big Sigh*

Jesus does show me what I should do now… not in the holy rusted Batman how do I get out of this bind sort of way… I bet if I look at this WWJD bracelet it will tell me! Rather, Jesus shows me that he would seek the Father when faced with my dilemma.  He would seek the Father when faced with any dilemma, decision, circumstance, praise, etc.  He did and would seek the Father.  His words to Philip tell me that through Him I too can seek the Father.  He says in John 14 verse 9 “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”  He goes on in that chapter to say:

10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Too often I get all bent out of shape and depressed about my “Christian calling” or career calling or role in the Christian body because I’m not “where I want to be” or feeling very fruitful or purposeful as a Christ-follower.  I become self-centered.  I try to figure out a way to feel purposeful and fruitful… code words for fulfilled.   I want to remember that it is through communion with God through Christ alone that I find fulfillment.  PERIOD.  I pray the Holy Spirit helps me to seek that communion, that true fulfillment.

If you’re looking for something purposeful to do, look to Christ: 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews)