1762 Grab Your Shovel

We’ve been hanging out in Luke 6 this week, listening to the teaching of Jesus to his newly selected disciples and large crowd that had gathered seeking his healing touch. He first tells them how to follow the pattern of his love. Yes, we’ve learned to not be hateful, do good, talk good, pray, forgive, give generously and just be nice. If we can do that, we show up like Jesus and our relationships are radically transformed.

We can practice this for the rest of our lives and still need to work on our love for others. So Jesus says, “Keep practicing, my girl! You’re loving more and more like me.”

Now, Jesus shows us how to build a life.

Each of us are building a life. You may be building very unintentionally and wonder why this life you’ve built is so unstable. You may be intentionally building your life but doing it on your own and wonder why you’re exhausted. All while Jesus has extended an invitation to build in partnership with him where he does the hard part ridiculously well, carries the burdens you cannot carry, to build a remarkable life using the ordinary things you can do and simple things you do have.

But Jesus asks the question, which builder will you be?

Luke 6: 47-48, “I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.”

This house being built is your life. How are you building it?

My sister, if you want a well-built life, Jesus shows 3 things you must do:

1. Come to him.
2. Listen to him.
3. Follow what he says.

Nowhere in that list is the requirement to know what you’re doing, always get it right, understand the details, or see the big picture. You’re not even required to be a great builder. There are no personal qualifications involved. You only need to dig deep and find that solid rock to build your life on. Jesus is that solid rock. He is your firm foundation.

You keep stressing wondering if you’re doing this right … Well, are you truly seeking Jesus? Are you listening to him? Are you following what he says to do? That’s the building checklist for your life, my sister. Do that and the rest is just paint colors and light fixtures.

I remember a time in my life, really not even all that long ago, when I didn’t know HOW to come to him, listen to him, and follow what he says. Is that a specific reading plan, a mystical 7 step ritual, a memorized prayer repeated daily? I like specifics and detailed steps to take. I like boxes to check and proven recipes to follow. And my search ultimately left me feeling totally unworthy and exhausted while still unsure of how to come to Jesus so I could hear him and follow him.

Just in case that’s where you are, please know you’re not alone. I understand. I understand not knowing how to talk to this great big God you can’t’t see. I understand opening the Bible and reading things that don’t make sense and feeling confused. I understand never knowing if the random thoughts passing through your mind are just your imagination or the Spirit of God prompting you.

I’ve been there. Some days I still find myself there.

But, that’s why this phase is called DIGGING. Jesus said you dig deep until you find that solid rock, then you start building the foundation.

Digging is messy. Digging doesn’t look desirable. Digging isn’t easy. Digging uncovers hidden, undesirable things. Digging takes you beneath the surface into some dark places.

Digging doesn’t just happen by thinking about it or talking about it. Digging happens when you show up, grab your shovel and do something with it.

Do you see what I see there? Woah, God, that’s good. Show up, grab your shovel, do something with it. Three