Getting Free From the Illusion of Our Indispensibility

One of my backyard friends

The Jesus-follower who abides in Christ, who deeply dwells in the presence of God, who actually has a life of prayer, and who lives like a branch connected to Jesus, the True Vine, will experience many things. One of them is this: God will break them of the illusion of their indispensibility. Which means: God does not need you to carry forth the work of his kingdom.

It seems obvious to me that, when I die, the Kingdom Movement will not screech to a halt. My existence on earth is not needed for God to carry on. It is of the utmost spiritual importance to recognize this and live out of it.

James Van Yperen, in Making Peace, writes: "Over and against the superhero, the Spirit-formed leader is first and foremost a servant. This leader starts with the assumption that God needs him or her for nothing. We serve at the pleasure and gifting of our Lord. It is all grace." (Van Yperen Making Peace, p. 81)

Praise God that he does not need me to accomplish his eternal purposes! Even without me, God's will will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. God does not require my existence. He does not need me. But God wants me, and loves me.

God desires that I be part of his laboring. I am a "co-laborer" with God. "For we are co-workers in God’s service" (1  Cor. 3:9). I am an ambassador of Christ, being entrusted with the message of reconciliation (2 Cor. 6). God desires relationship with me. I am his child. God wants to form me and morph me and then wield me as an instrument of righteousness. "Offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness" (Rom. 6:13). You and I will do well to: 1) see life as a gift; and 2) see service to God as honor and joy.

If the fact that God does not need you disappoints you, then you have too much of "you" in you. Neither you, nor I, are God's gift to mankind. That has always been Someone else.