beyond_yourself

Going Beyond Yourself, by Randall D. Kittle

I remember how excited I was to hear the news that my friend’s husband was coming with her to the small group my wife and I were leading on marriage. Only recently had she become a Christian, and not only was her husband not a believer, he was practicing a self-made eastern religion fashioned out of Zen Buddhism. Wanting to be as accepting as possible, I purposed to give him as much leeway as I could: overlooking little comments he might make that seemed anti-Christian, explaining any “Christianese” in common terms, and trying to avoid anything overly religious. When the evening finally arrived, he walked in wearing a quiet air of superiority. He interacted with the group in a contemplative manner that reminded me of the stoic philosophers of old. Things went pretty well at first, but as he got more comfortable, I noticed that he began to idealize his philosophy and make it sound more established and superior to what the others were sharing — as if he were the final authority. At last, he went into a long monologue testifying of his lengthy search of all forms of religion on his journey to “find himself.” Realizing that his speech could sow the seeds of confusion and doubt into the hearts of the younger believers present, I intervened by declaring, “Christianity isn’t about finding yourself … it’s about getting over yourself … going beyond yourself.”

This wasn’t just good advice for him (who, in a few weeks, surrendered his heart to the Lord and became a Christian), it is good advice for each of us today. Too often, we limit what God can do in us and through us by looking at our lives — our shortcomings, weaknesses, limitations, and failings. God is calling each of us to get over ourselves and go beyond ourselves. What does God want to do in your life this year? He wants to do far more than you are asking Him to do through you … more than you can think or imagine. “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think or even imagine …” (Ephesians 3:20). Jesus came that we might not only have life, but have it abundantly. The Lord expects us to live a supernatural life … a life beyond ourselves … a real life of faith.

Faith is not about doing the possible, for we can do that with planning, effort, and determination. Faith is believing the unbelievable, knowing the unknowable, and doing the impossible! Most of the memorable things I have done for God have happened when I was at the end of myself — unable to do what I felt God called me to — but then I chose to believe God and not myself or others. It is only when we are faced with what others may consider a “mission impossible” that we truly step into the realm of the supernatural. When you feel God has called you to something beyond yourself, remember what Jesus said in Matthew 19:26, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Most of us realize that nothing is impossible for God. What we forget is that He loves to do these “impossible missions” with people just like you and me — plain, earthen vessels as it says in the Bible. God is looking for a people who will expect no limitations and let go to God; those willing to sow their mustard seed of faith because Jesus said “… if you have faith as small as a mustard seed … nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20). Will this be the year you choose to go beyond yourself and begin to live the supernatural, overcoming life? Heaven is waiting to see how we will respond!