Aslan is on the move...

When we hear the word of the Lord, when Christ pushes us forward to a person, to a people, to a place, something happens… When we know we’re setting our steps to be working with him, in exactly the time and space that he wants to be with us, we come alive.

It’s something like how the children felt when the Beaver from Narnia mentioned that Aslan was on the move.

“At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in his inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer.”

There’s a childlike excitement and drive that propels us forward in knowing Christ, in prayer, in cross-cultural work, language learning, and talking to the lost. It sometimes is very trying and difficult, it often requires perseverance and resolve, but it shouldn’t always feel like a dry straining.

“To many Christians the thought of a life wholly abiding in Christ is one of strain and painful effort. They cannot see that the strain and effort only come, as long as we do not yield ourselves unreservedly to the life of Christ in us.” (Andrew Murray)

Yielding ourselves unreservedly to the life of Christ in us… I think this is the kind of surrender and yielding that Paul described his own “work” as. He was propelled ever forward by the desires of the Spirit inside of him.

“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” Col 1:29

It’s not trying to work up a bunch of motivation and work hard with that. It’s about emptying ourselves and receiving his ambition. It’s not about working up the courage to go do something scary, it’s letting go and trusting that he’ll be with you in that scary place. It’s about yielding ourselves to the life and passions of Christ, wherever they may be. They could be among flocks of Muslim families in a park during Ramadan, or in another more difficult country that he’s calling us to, or in sweet communion with the Father in a prayer closet.

The lion of Judah is roaring and charging forward inside of us. We’re just trying to keep up.

Make sure you’re knowing him, knowing his voice, and don’t settle for anything less. Get on your knees, and get his heart for the people. Get his heart for whoever he wants you to go to.