Hey, guys. It's James with Are you listening.
Today, I'm gonna talk about discovery,
not mastery.
The faith that lives is 1 that grows,
learns and most of all loves. But I
wanna speak to this from a position of
self improvement.
You hear that all the time. You hear
the term. And it's often herald, but really
it's fraught with peril. I mean, indeed, we
should strive to work on ourselves. But the
reflection of my soul once revealed a man,
I neither desire to be, nor I wanted
to be present in the world.
Improving the frail, fearful and broken shell I
once was,
projecting a facade of confidence unconsciously,
was not the answer. No. That man needed
to die and die he did.
In some cases, the situation is so dire.
That replacement is needed not repair.
Really, it's the only viable option.
Yet, this does not negate the principle that
everything every everyone is capable of change and
is redeem.
But it doesn't require mastery. A lot of
times we feel like we should master things
and should be in a place where we
just have to become better,
which is not bad, but
we really should be thinking about discovering
better.
Discovering the new,
it requires discovery.
See, when we have value,
in the world.
We bring value into the world, and the
more value that we bring into the world,
the less freedom we have. I mean, we
aren't free to sabotage our lives.
Why?
Because our purpose becomes a lifeline for other
people.
Let me, picture this. A single drop of
water filling it falling into a pond, you
know, or a glass or bowl.
It creates ripples that extend far beyond the
point of impact.
I've written about this recently in the last
year. Similarly, our actions, our purposes send waves
that touch lives that we may never know
about that we may never meet.
This truth underscores a profound reality. And as
our influence grows.
So does our responsibility.
So does our
obligation
So our actions no longer affect just us,
they ripple out, impacting and affecting the lives
of those who depend on our purpose and
our vision are in our very being
And I think that meeting people,
this is a whole of the conversation by
the way is where real life happens. I
believe in its purest form life exists when
we interact intimately with others in conversation and
purpose with intention. At this point, I realized
that I just
that as I have been inspired by many
people in my life,
and been in all of others that they
too have been inspired by me and been
in of me.
This mutual inspiration is the essence of human
connection. We are only special in our
unique ability.
All and our unique interest in the lives
of those around us,
which makes us part of something greater, purpose,
legacy, legacy,
I cannot even talk today. Purpose,
legacy
movement.
Maybe I need some more coffee.
I'm often inspired by the people that I
meet, no matter who they are.
But this dependency, this obligation. This responsibility that
comes from this type of mindset.
This type of life. This type of value,
can really morph into unhealthy code if we're
not careful. If we don't navigate with wisdom
and discernment, it can become very
very
unhealthy.
Consider the over bearing parent, you know, who
and their
deep intention and desire to protect, actually s
the growth,
and their independence of their child.
A lot of you probably have that story
to tell. So it's here we must lead
from the root of autonomy,
Autonomy does not mean just
isolation. But autonomy is a well defined sense
of self that establishes clear boundaries. That's what
we do.
With everyone around us. I mean, imagine a
garden, each plant thrive best when it's given
its own space to grow with clear boundaries
to prevent entanglement.
And allow each 1 to flourish on its
own.
These boundaries are not barriers, but bridges to
healthier more authentic relationships
see they delineate
where the end
and the beginning of others are. It foster
sort of an environment where mutual respect individual
growth can coexist.
Not a 1 way street of c dependency
on either person.
This is where strong entered dependence and accountability
is for forged. It is within the space
of healthy boundaries and self awareness that intimate
lives t
I mean, think of a dance. 2 partners
move in harmony, each aware of their own
steps. Yet have perfectly in sync with 1
another. This... Thriving
intimacy is not confined to romantic it relationships
as well. Get that out of your mind.
It is the intimacy that begins in every
relationship.
From which romantic
relationships are born.
But it's true of every relationship.
It's true
in every form of human connection.
It is the bedrock in my opinion upon
which trust is built and upon which transformation
occurs.
For the believer, this autonomy is the root
of our purpose. The power of our being
the control of our intention and the playful
found in the joy of being who we
are without. Fear and shame or regret.
Our faith in informs and enrich this autonomy,
grounding it in a higher purpose and a
deeper sense of belonging. I mean, imagine a
tree deeply in, in a rooted in soil,
and its stability and growth come from its
roots, but it reaches out and provides s
and fruit and shelter to the world around
it.
This is an abundant life that is shared
with other people.
It is a life marked by the freedom
to be authentically
ourselves,
while embracing the responsibility that comes with our
influence.
It is a life where joy is not
a fleeting emotion, but a deep seated state
of being, that's born out of the assurance
of our place in the world and our
impact on it.
Picture a life to a lighthouse
standing firm on the shore. It's grounded and
unwavering and it doesn't go anywhere no matter
how hard the storms
or the waters crash upon it.
But it provides guidance and safety to all
who navigate the turbulent waters of life.
This is what Jesus reveals is the heart
of the good report of his rescue. The
gospel of grace. This message is not 1
of just individual in personal salvation, but community
transformation,
intimate, collective
transformation. Full of investment.
See, through the teachings of Jesus. In his
example, we learned that our lives are not
to be lived in isolation or my with
just people who look like us or think
like us or talk like us, but in
vibrant, life giving
relationships with other people. I mean, imagine a
a mosaic those each piece unique in individual.
I used this metaphor a lot,
But that Mosaic coming together to create a
beautiful and unified work of art.
We get to live together in this mighty
way until we see Christ face to face.
This together is not just a future hope,
but a present reality. It is the essence
of the kingdom of God here on this
earth now right here, right now,
not just for the eternity and the future
that we look forward to. The It is
in our shared lives, our mutual support, and
our collective growth that we experience the fullness
of life that Jesus promised. Picture a community
garden.
Each person contributes.
Each person benefits and the collective effort results
in a ban harvest that nourish everyone.
Doesn't paul say something about that inside Corinthians.
In this understanding, self improvement transcend sends the
individual and becomes a communal endeavor.
Our growth, our discoveries, our transformation is not
just for our benefit, but for the betterment
of all those we touch. We live not
just for ourselves but for each other finding
our highest purpose and the service and uplift
of those around us.
But Again, the tapestry, Each threat, no matter
how small or large is essential to the
beauty and the strength of the whole. We
are 1 body, many parts.
So
certain... The the the the the self improvement
journey, if you will, as so earners in
this world, we're together in the chaos. We're
together in
the journey work together
in this trip called life.
When we see it through this lens, it's
not a solitary path, but a shared pilgrimage.
A shared experience,
a shared intimacy. It's a journey marked by
mutual discovery. Shared joys, collective victories. It's a
testament to the interconnectedness of our existence
and the profound truth that we are better
together.
Discovery, not mastery.
The faith that lives is 1 that grows,
learns, and most of all loves.
The life that lives
is 1 that does these things.
In Galatians, Paul cries out, I've been crucified
with Christ. It is no longer I who
live Christ who lives within me.
Now I live in the flesh.
I live by faith and the son of
God who's loved me and gave himself for
me.
We can look at all the scripture. We
can see that the proverbs tells us that
we sharpen 1 another.
We can see that just because we are
1 person, we're just a part of a
body.
It has many members.
And where members of the body so that
we actually exist for 1 another.
Peter says that first Peter 4 that each
of us have received a gift, and we
are to use it to serve 1 another
as stewards of God's varied grace. So if
we speak,
but we serve,
we provide strength. We do it though we
may glorify our father in heaven through Jesus
Christ.
Romans 12 says to
love 1 another
with brother
affection to the point that we out do
1 another in showing honor.
And acts 2,
verse 44. They had everything in common.
They had life together.
Than fellowship.
And they were selling their possessions and belong
as in distributing the pre to all as
many had need
And day by day, they attended the temple
together. They broke bread in their homes,
and they receive food with glad and generous
heart praising God for having favor with all
people. And the lord added to their number,
day by day, those were being saved.
Love is patient.
Love is kind.
And above all these.
Put on love which binds everything together in
perfect harmony.
Beloved,
I wanna be a man like that.
So that's about discovery,
not mastery.
Because the only 1 who's ever mastered love
is Jesus.
So we can follow his example while resting
in his righteousness
that by grace has been credited to me.
And to you, if indeed, you've tasted and
seen that the lord is good.
Are you listening?