Amy Carmichael began her mission work at seventeen among the poor neighborhood girls. Christina DeMari moved to the Philippines at nineteen, where she worked for several years to spread the gospel to the most remote parts of the land.

These women, and countless others like them, are so inspiring. Yet when I read about them, I become discontent with my own life. I’m a senior in high school, I have a preschool-aged sister, and my mother has some health issues which means I spend a lot of time helping at home. I’m kinda limited in opportunities to do those grand things, much as I desperately long to. I want to be used, I want to make a difference, I want to do all these great things for God.

And then I realized that I’m still thinking that grace, salvation, and love is earned. After all, ministering to hundreds in some poor, remote country surely counts for more than playing tag with my little sister, doesn’t it? I want to do the “big things” while overlooking the “little things” that I have been given to do. I seem to think that if I do something great and wonderful like that, then God will be more pleased with me, He’ll love me more, or I’ll be more worthy of His love.

That’s a crippling mindset! And during my devotions today, I realized something: What was Jesus doing for thirty years before He began His ministry? We’re told that he grew and matured, and that he was simply living in Nazareth. That’s it. There is no record of what He did, which probably means we wouldn’t consider His actions particularly noteworthy. He lived obediently, He grew and studied and learned the Scriptures, He took care of His family, and I’m sure He applied Himself to become the best carpenter He could be.

If Jesus was pleasing God by spending thirty years of His life doing nothing particularly earth-shattering, but simply serving those around Him and learning and growing, who am I to look down on that kind of life? He spent ten times as many years living that kind of simple life as He did in public ministry. God does not require the same things at the same time from everyone. And while I am never to stop looking for ways to serve and love, He is not asking me right now to do something I would consider “big”. He didn’t love Amy Carmichael any more than He loved the criminal who turned to Him on the cross. And He can’t love me more if I’m doing something else than He does as I’m trying to study, learn, and serve.

All He wants me to do is love Him. He asks me to be faithful in what He’s given me, no matter how pointless or insignificant it may seem. I am just to do as He asks and not fret because I want someone else’s portion instead.

Of course, just to make it abundantly clear: I’m certainly not saying to avoid great opportunities, or avoid stepping out in faith to do things even with your limitations. For me, right now, these kinds of amazing international things just aren’t happening. Thus, He has been teaching me that there is no shame in living the quieter life; no shame in blooming where He’s planted me.

What do you think? // Visit Megan’s Blog

ESPN The Magazine’s latest cover story is about 17-year-old Zac Sunderland — a Christian and a rebelutionary. The title of the article? Do Hard Things.

The title was inspired by a shirt Zac wears as he makes his way around the world — and the phrase that has come to serve as a motto for his great adventure.

ESPN journalist, Chris Jones, explains the inspiration in this excerpt:

Zac has a brown T-shirt that reads “Do Hard Things,” and mile after mile, ocean after ocean, he pulled it over his head to remind himself why he was wending his way around the world at six knots.

While the article doesn’t make the connection between “Do Hard Things” and the book or the movement, Zac does — as he shared on his blog a few months ago.

Connection or not, Brett and I are excited to see “Do Hard Things” reach a national mainstream audience through the exploits of a true rebelutionary. Let’s show the world what it means to “do hard things” through and for Christ.

+ Read the Article + Visit Zac’s Blog +

There is a part of me that is dazzled by talent. At times certain artists, certain writers, certain athletes, or certain craftsmen can just take my breath away. This little girl had that affect on me, though I must admit to being heavily influenced by the cuteness factor. Still, it is impossible to deny that Emily Bear is impressive.

What impresses you? That was one of the questions my brother Josh asked attendees at the Next conference over Memorial Day weekend. I later found out that the question wasn’t planned — it wasn’t even in his notes. But he was speaking to us from Colossians, where Paul is joyfully proclaiming the preeminence of Christ. This is my attempt at expanding on that question and its implications. Please read the following passage of Scripture carefully. Think about what it says.

Colossians 1:15-19 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him.

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

When I watch Emily Bear play the piano, do I remember that she was created through Christ and for Christ? When my heart begins to admire an athlete’s talent, do I remind myself that in Him that athlete holds together? When I am confronted with the intellectual precision of a thinker, speaker, or communicator, do I use that as an opportunity to recall that Jesus is more accomplished, more masterful, more expert, more skillful, more excellent, more outstanding?

When I am impressed by anything on this planet, do I immediately turn and worship Jesus because in everything He is more impressive, more magnificent, more majestic, more imposing, more splendid, more spectacular, more grand, more awe-inspiring, more striking, more stunning, more breathtaking? Because that is what it means for Christ to be preeminent. That is what Paul is saying about Jesus.

What impresses you? And how do you take advantage of those moments to turn and worship your Savior? It is good to be impressed. We are wired to be blown-away by glory. But we only see pieces of glory in people — and they all point to the one who created all things, holds all things together, and is above and before everything.

Some questions for discussion:

• What’s something that impresses you? It can be anyone or anything.
• In light of Colossians 1:15-19, how does that person or thing demonstrate Christ’s preeminence? It may be obvious or it may require extended thought. There are few better ways to spend your time.

After writing several posts along the Don’t Waste Your Life theme, we just remembered that The Café (a section of the Rebelution forums) is hosting a reading group for Don’t Waste Your Life this summer (discussion starts on June 15).

This is an excellent opportunity to not only read the book, but to discuss it with fellow rebelutionaries. If you are already a member of the forums simply Private Message Justin Davito to be added to the group. Otherwise you’ll need to (1) apply for forum membership and (2) Private Message Justin Davito.

Purchase DWYL // Free PDF Version // Join Forum

I read Do Hard Things for the first time one year ago. I thought, This is great! This is what was missing in my life! This will give me the passion and purpose I want! Life is going to be different from now on. But what I thought was wrong.

It did not give me the kind of life that I longed for.

It did not give me an all-consuming passion.

I was focused on the wrong things. Even though Alex and Brett say that the point of doing hard things is to glorify God, I was really a Rebelutionary because it brought glory to me. And that was wrong, and that is why it did not give me purpose. I thought that we were created to do hard things, but that is an error. We are created to glorify God, which might involve doing hard things.

What was missing was a passion for God. No amount of doing very hard things can replace a passion for the living God.

QUESTION: What is the chief end [purpose] of Man?

ANSWER: To glorify God and enjoy him forever.

This is the first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism. I have known the words for years, but I didn’t really understand what it meant to glorify God. It sounds like something only angels can do, doesn’t it? John Piper explained this in his book Don’t Waste Your Life. I am so thankful that my church gave this book to me as a graduation gift last week. Piper writes that:

“Enjoying God supremely is one way to glorify him. Enjoying God makes him look supremely valuable.”

“God’s purpose for my life was that I have a passion for God’s glory and that I have a passion for my joy in that glory, and that these two are one passion.”

“The world [or even Do Hard Things] is no longer our treasure. It’s not the source of our life or our satisfaction or our joy. Christ is.”

“God created me — and you — to live with a single, all-transforming passion — namely a passion to glorify God by enjoying and displaying his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life.”

Piper explains that to glorify God is to magnify God, but not like a microscope making something small look big, but like a telescope making something huge and beautiful look the way it really is.

Read Don’t Waste Your Life. It is possible to be a Rebelutionary and still waste your life, no matter how many hard things you do. It is meaningless to be focused on what we can do for Christ. It is fully satisfying to be so focused on the cross and passionate about God that our love and passion transforms everything we do. Then, God is glorified. That is a life to die for.

“… If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” - Mark 8:34-35

In his book, The Glory of Christ, Peter Lewis shares a story told by a pastor he heard preach in Wales. When the pastor was about twelve he idolized a local rugby player. He literally papered the walls of his bedroom with newspaper clippings and photos, and loved to talk about the athlete’s exploits on the field. The pastor shared:

Then, when I was about 14-years-old, I got to know my hero personally! He was a keen angler and I used to go fishing with him. On these occasions I was able to observe him from an entirely different viewpoint and got to know the man, not merely the image. And the nearer I got the smaller he became.

But God eventually led that downcast schoolboy to a new hero. And I have walked with my Jesus for thirty-five years now. In that time I have often disappointed him, but he has never disappointed me! I have got to know him better, and the nearer I get the BIGGER he becomes.

I first heard this story at the Next conference (aka, New Attitude) last week. In his message on the preeminence of Christ, my older brother Joshua commented: “The more we learn of Jesus the bigger and more glorious he becomes in our eyes. To one extent or another everyone and everything in this sinful world will let us down. The closer we get the smaller and less appealing it will become. But the closer we get to Jesus the more beautiful and worthy we’ll discover that he is.”

Has this been your experience? If not, could it be that you are distant from Christ? Do not despair, but cry out to God. The psalmist writes, “When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions. Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!” (Psalm 65:3-4).

If you would like a bigger vision of Jesus I highly recommend downloading and listening to the (free) messages from Next. Start with the messages on Christ’s preeminence and life (by Josh and Kevin DeYoung, respectively). All of the messages stirred my heart with new affections for my Savior.