"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
-Ephesians 3:14-19
It's amazing how much someone can change in a semester. God has really been moving in my life since the beginning of summer '11. Seeing two of my brothers in Christ get married to two Godly women has changed the focus of my life.
Suddenly, I have been awoken to the fact that the time is fast approaching where I will have to be the leader God has called me to be in a family of my own.
So long are the days of playing xbox for 5-6 hours straight...
So long are the days of spending money on frivolous things...
So long are the days of going to class and staring at all the pretty ladies, wondering if they're the one who will satisfy the void of a "serious" relationship in my life...
So long are the days of my changing who I was to fit in with a certain crowd or to make someone like me more.
So long are the days where I sacrifice time with God for earthly pleasures.
God has called us men to be the leaders of so many different areas of this world He has made for us. The sad thing is, I feel like I've only come to really truly come to realize this the past semester. What I knew previous to this semester was that to properly and efficiently lead anything, it was important that the leader lead by example. How could I be the leader God is calling me to be if I made conscious decisions to put sports, gaming, school, before His word. Ephesians 5:8 says "For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light"
God has called us out of the darkness of our old lives, to be something new, something that glorifies Him and shines like the "stars in the universe" (Phil. 2:15).
He has called us to be His.
All this growing up has led me to look at the things in my life that I have not been proud of, the sin in my life that has grabbed me by the ankle and refused to let go. In the midst of all of this, God has shown me the answer to all of life's problems. John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
My sin was laid upon the pure and unblemished body of Christ, who took it to the grave. But my sin, the sin of those around me, the sin of all mankind couldn't keep Him down, and He rose again.
It was a complete understanding of His son's sacrifice that has led me to where I am today. It's seeing God move in my life, and provide for my every worry I bring to Him through prayer that helps me realize He is the way.
God's love has changed me....
And I, Neal Spencer, the guy who had to have the next 20 years of his life planned, had it all flipped upside down in less than 6 months, grew up, and found what really mattered in life. God's grace.
