Being or Doing?

God used the reading for August 3 in "My Utmost for His Highest" and some teachings from "Experiencing God" to prompt the following thoughts.
August 4, 1998

We live in a "do" society.  Workers are rewarded for what they do, how well they do their jobs, how many publications they have, etc.  In this society, the way to "be" somebody is to "do" something noteworthy or exceptional, something beyond what all the others are doing.

God chooses us and calls us to "be": to be saved, redeemed, and holy, to be His children, but most of all, just to "be" with Him.  The things we "do" as Christians are the fruit of our communing with God: bearing fruit, loving others, obedience, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control, ...

As we live in this "do" society we sometimes confuse who we are (identity) with what we do (activity).  We think in terms of activity; "to do" lists, projects, responsibilities, jobs, etc.  We seldom think about our identity apart from such activities.  Even when we ask young people what they want to be when they grow up, their response is usually something they want to do: a career, profession, or other sort of activity.

This is my dilemma.  How do I separate doing from being.  I want to be with God, to commune with Him, to love, worship, and enjoy Him forever. In my profession I am compelled to do in order to keep job, get promotions, etc.  Often, we bring this "do" mentality into the church with us.  The body of Christ is about being, not doing.  Jesus has already done all that needed to be done.  We need only to be in Him. All else pales in comparison.  He will do all that needs to be done through us if we are (abiding) in Him.  God does not need anything from us.  When we sense God's calling, it is to be with Him.  Once we are with Him, He may commission us to "be" ambassadors with specific activities, but the calling is to be.  When we begin doing apart from
God, our independence threatens our relationship, distance limits our being with Him.

A few selected verses:
    Ephesians 1:4-5 For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to "be" holy and blameless in His sight.  In love He predestined us to "be" adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ ...
    Ephesians 1:12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might "be" for the praise of His glory...
    I Peter 1:15 But just as He who called yo is holy, so "be" holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I AM Holy."
    Matthew 5:48 "Be" perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Obviously, we are called to be more than we can be in our own power, strength, ability, or merit.  The only way we can "be all that you can be" is through intimate fellowship with the One who made us, the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Transcendent, Immutable God.

Let us learn to be content in His presence, to be thankful, to be joyful, to be content, and all the other fruit that comes from abiding in the True Vine.