What It’s About
By
Lexi Cole Ellis
“So
then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him,
rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and
overflowing with thankfulness.”
Colossians
2:6-7 (NIV)
Two years ago, my
then-fiancé, Andrew, and I were meeting with wedding caterers and it wasn’t
something I was particularly enjoying. I felt defeated. We had been in contact
with ten different caterers - - analyzing menus and prices, comparing pros and
cons - - and I was overwhelmed.
On the way home from
another appointment, I lost it. Andrew looked at me, put his “non-driving” hand
over my eyes and said “Change of plans, I have a surprise. Keep your eyes
closed.” When the car stopped, we were at Dickten Park. Andrew led me to the
spot where he had proposed and said, “Babe, this is what it’s about. Not the
money, not the kind of food. It’s all about the next step we chose to take
right here.”
We all need those
little reminders. We all need breaks in the midst of crazy busy-ness to
remember what it’s about. That day made me wonder: Are there other areas in my
life where I feel so overwhelmed that I’m missing out on what my life is really
about? Are the details and the busy-ness of my routine getting in the way of
the “big picture things”? Things like remembering who God is and what He has
done for me? Because I’ve known Christ for a long time, I sometimes forget what
it’s about. I get caught up in the “today” and the checklist of things to do
right at this moment.
What are some of those
“big picture” things? What is it all really about?
We are:
- God’s
image-bearers.
- loved by the
Creator of the Universe.
- free from guilt
and shame because of His work on the Cross.
- called to a
life that is intentional about loving and serving others.
- redeemed by a
God who desires oneness with us.
- purchased at a
great cost because He values us.
- worthy in His
eyes to be called His daughters.
The reality is, there
is so much power and freedom in the magnitude of what God has done for us. I’m
thankful Andrew reminded me of the “big picture” with our wedding planning. I’m
also thankful we serve a relational God who deserves to be served above the
small little details of our lives. HE is what it’s about.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Before the day gets
busy, stop and think about what it’s really about.
2. What do you need to
do right now to focus more on the “big picture” of our God rather than the busy
details?
FURTHER READING:
Lexi
and her husband, Andrew, are puppy-parents to Calvin. She serves with Oakwood’s
Children’s Ministries, teaches at Lake Country Christian Academy and is the
Fresh Start Coordinator.
