20 November 2007
The Best Day of Your life!!!
This is my son, Nathan’s (he’s the highest one in the tree — naturally) favorite thing to say, “This was the best day of my life!” He says it all the time—sometimes several times in one week! Who can have that many “best days of their entire life?!”
And the kicker?
He genuinely means it, every time!
Ever feel this way? Ever have one of those days at the end of which you breathe in deep and the corners of your mouth draw upward into a huge, goofy grin as you realize what an unbelievably awesome day you just had?
No?
Shame on you. Especially if you’re a Christ follower because this ought to be a regular occurrence for you. Jesus wrote about such a life write here. Read it. Then come back.
I’ll wait…
Would that we all lived this way! Which leads me to a related point today. You see, I have a few friends in the ministry who always seem to be going through similar things. Lately I have had a few people (really, just a few…like 2 or 3, thank God) criticize, oops, I mean, ‘offer constructive feedback with the purpose of building me up and making me a better pastor in the area of “excessive enthusiasm for the building up of God’s Kingdom.”
No, I’m not joking. I wish I was, but there really are people who don’t want you to get too excited about what God is doing.
It isn’t dignified (read here, “It isn’t something I’m able to comfortably do).
But what happens if you really are that excited about Jesus Christ doing great things in your midst? What happens if each coming week and every passing day feels like the best week or day of your life?!” Are we supposed to take spiritual prozac and keep it at an acceptable level?
Funny, I don’t see believers doing this at NASCAR events.
or NFL games…
or Clemson games (even I have been tempted to give a pill to these folks 
)
or partys…
or political rallys…
Do I need to keep going?
Why do we feel like it’s ok to get loud, crazy, naked (oops, I mean halfway, as in the Greenbay fans who paint their chests green and yellow and only have a thin layer of paint keeping them warm on a 28 degree day) and ‘appropriately enthusiastic’ about all this stuff, but not about the God of the universe condescending to offer us adoption into his family and eternal life?!
Seriously, I didn’t get the memo.
I really do get fired up about upcoming series and baptisms and messages and events because each one has the potential to be the best ever as long as God is leading the way.
That’s why I’m more excited today about what lies ahead for Southbrook then I was yesterday. That’s why we are in an awesome series right now, but I’m even more excited about the one coming up.
It’s going to be the best ever!
So, I hope I never get that memo about curbing my enthusiasm. No thanks. In fact, I’m feeling absolutely great about what I just wrote.
It’s probably my best post ever!!
And others feel this way too (not about my post, but about the whole idea of ‘curbing our enthusiasm). Read what my friend, Perry Noble wrote on the subject as he struggles to understand the same thing. Go ahead and read it and then set out to make sure today is…
YOUR BEST DAY EVER!!!
8 Comments currently posted.
Lance Gargus says:
Scuba Steve says:
Hey Rob,
I agree whole heartedly. For me though, before excitement settles in Grace must abound or outward emotions are mere displays. It starts with quiet moments of grace penetrating this sinful heart. Like the picture of Jesus hanging on the cross projected after your sermon on Sunday. Hundreds of reminders all over His body and with each scar a reminder of how much He loves me. This brought to mind the various passages on how unrecognizable he was when he approached the cross. Looking at the picture… at that moment, my petty issues melted, my heart was exposed, and my fears subsided. Jesus! He does that! In the quietness of that moment, my eyes filled with tears and grace reached out again communicating how much His love abounds.
Now, after these moments of surrending to my Savior… When I come into His presence in prayer, asking for His forgiveness over those things that acted as a barrier to my relationship then excitement and high energy can settle in. Adopted, saved, bought, deserving nothing, and yet heir to every spritual blessing? Yes… that’s the best day of my life… that and every day I come into His presence.
I believe the “key” is in His presence. We come into the presence of fans, football, and other sports and executives become painted idiots shouting the name of their hometeam. When we come into the presence of almightly God through prayer we are changed. Living in His presence automatically brings about a zest for life and a zeal for the future. Living each day with the full knowledge of how sinful I was and yet how I am now clothed with HIS rightnessness… that deserves a big SHOUT, a LOUD laugh, and a bit of dancing…. Go Jesus!
Scuba Steve
liz walania says:
Wow, you have a gift, Scuba Steve. What you wrote was so poignant for me. I’m a fairly new believer in Christ, just over a year, and I can’t get enough of God and what he’s doing around us. Christ has so radically changed my life, literally saving it, and I too can’t help getting excited and joyful about the Gospel. Isn’t that what’s supposed to happen when you hear good news? This is definitely one area where I just can’t hold back. And if the Spirit moves you, then proclaim your God given joy for the whole world to hear!
Matt and Dee Langley says:
Ok Rob I think you wrote this one just for me!!
I have been “screaming” (literally and figuratively) for God for years. At my last church I thought some people were going to come unglued the first time I yelled out. I feel like I have had to “keep the lid on” my worship.
I have always prayed and been concerned about being TOO loud.
I have had people tell me it looks like I am going to take off. If I could I certainly would!
What God HAS done and IS CONSTANTLY doing for me, I can’t keep it in! And when others get to join in on that wonderful gift, well I have got to celebrate with the angels! I hope that my excitement is just a little slice of heaven on earth!
I love the Lord with all I am and I am so thankful that I get to show him how much I love him! I hope that everyone gets this! I know that not everyone is like me and not able to do this but I think that God can touch each and everyone of us to make us feel like we have to jump and shout to show him how much we love him!!
Everyday that I get to be his child (imperfections and all) I am so grateful! So grateful that he wants to talk to me, be with me, hear me, love me, touch me, curl up with me, make me feel better, help me, heal me, lift me up, give me wisdom, pour himself into me, show me how to be him to others, and let me worship him!
Praise God and Thank You for letting me . . . . Be Me!
Charles says:
I’ve never understood the desire to keep our enthusiasm in check. I came to Christ in high school and I was basically taught not to get too excited. It was ok at a youth rally or during a lock in, but not during Bible study or at church. After a while it finally went away.
It took a long time to start to get it back, and I love it when I get excited thinking about Jesus. It’s something I think we need to encourage in new believers, because that way it spreads to the rest of the body.
Kati says:
to me it seems if were not excited about what God is doing than why should God do anything anyway…
becuase if we just sit there and say oh yeah, God is pretty cool. in this monotone afterthought voice then honestly why should the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE waste His time…
me personally, i’m just thrilled He even loves me after everything I mess up at.
and if thats not something to get excited for then a two hour sport, that no ones going to remember in 100 years won’t be important.
basically… keep the enthusiasim coming Rob!!! and everyone else!!!!
Alan Abbott says:
I too am amazed and excited for the work of Christ in my life. Life just keeps getting better and better. Everyday (ok, almost everyday) I say this is the best day ever…and I really believe it!!! To see what Christ has done and where he has taken me, where he has grown me, where he as broken me makes each day better and better. Most of the time I don’t show how excited I really am but the excitement is there. Shame on me for not share the excitement and enthusiasm with those I influence. Thank you for the reminder.
Robsingleton.net » Hits, Misses, and Just Plain Delays says:
[...] bet it will be the Best Year of Our Lives! Read here is you want to know more about [...]
To allow God to become personal to us should get us excited. Excitement about the One who died for us is something that we as Christians have lost. We seem to have left our first Love.
Blessings Brother,
Lance
Keep the joy.