For the last few days I’ve been listening to a book my brother told me about. It’s not something I would normally choose to read. I don’t usually go for true stories that encourage the idea of becoming elite or great. Mostly because I’m not sure striving to be the greatest is good for me. There were seasons I dreamed about it, even worked really hard at it, but in the end I realized it became an idol.
Merriam-Webster’s defines elite as “superior in quality, rank, skill, etc…”. We might say “the cream of the crop.” In some ways we are all shooting for the gold star. Trying to be the greatest at something. Dreaming and striving to reach the next goal which often drives our daily living. Even now, as I’m listening to this book, I am walking in the neighborhood to achieve my step goal. I admit there’s something satisfying about seeing the step goal on my watch turn green at the end of the day.
My experience with idolatry brings me to deeper questions about greatness.
Where do I focus my effort and training?
What do I work on to achieve or excel in doing/being/learning?
Which gifts do I practice to the point of perfection?
Good books challenge me to ask the hard questions. Excellent books inspire me to have the courage to look at the truth about myself and give an honest answer. This is an excellent book.
The writers of the book begin with “mission mindset.” In other words, what’s the mission, the goal, the thing you want to develop into greatness? And before you jump into answers related to your profession or talent, I encourage you to ask the question from a spiritual perspective.
What is the mission of a follower of Jesus? Is it to memorize all the verses? to have perfect church attendance? Maybe it’s obeying all the rules or being able to pray without your mind wandering. Is it the same for everyone? And if it is, then is there a way to become elite in it?
Yes… this is how my mind works, and before you continue reading, I invite you to pause and ask yourself the same question.
What is my mission mindset when it comes to following Jesus?
I have a strong opinion about the answer.
Jesus did too. There was a moment religious leaders attempted to trick Jesus by asking him to choose the most important commandment or law. I believe his answer reveals his mission.
Love God.
Love others.
Everything comes back to this.
I love the way Eugene Peterson writes it.
Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”
Matthew 22:37-40 MSG
Jesus’ answer is an invitation to discover elite-ness in every season of life. It doesn’t depend on fame or fortune or the world’s definition of the best. You won’t receive an award or trophy to set on a shelf. In my experience love, elite love, has a super power others don’t have.
Elite love has the power to expand in every direction, through every one of us, all at the same time.
It’s the very essense of God. It’s who God is. The very same godly character that lives in each of us.
Love is God’s mission mindset. I so want it to be mine too.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
1 John 4:9-11 NLT
Let me just give a shout out to my little brother. The one who metioned the book. And a heart felt thanks to the writers who answered the call to share their story with the world. If you’re interested in reading it just click on the link below.
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