Spiritual Survival Guide
6: Keeping It Going: Moving Beyond Survival Mode
channel it outwards. This final step is about taking that life-changing gift of God and doing the only appropriate thing we can do—letting it flow through us. Giv- ing it away. Give it to whom? To whomever needs it. Give it why? Because there’s no greater need, no greater joy, and no higher purpose in life. Give it how? As effectively and lovingly as we can. Give it where and when? Wherever and whenever it’s needed. A.A.’s step 12 says, Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. They call it “carrying the message.” We call it evangelism . Either way, it’s the same thing. Either way, it’s not about “imposing” anything. It’s about intervening with love in the lives of people who are suffering. This step is all about making sure that no one is left out of the loop, out of the heal- ing process, out of the community of changed lives. This is the step that Jesus gave to his followers after he taught them to walk in his footsteps. He promised them that they would not only do what he did, but that they would do even greater things. He commis- sioned, commanded, and released them into the whole world, for the sake of the whole world—to heal it, repair it, and love it. He built them up, and then he sent them in the power of his love, so that no one would be left out, and so that all might be his disciples—living in his way, empow- ered by his Spirit, transformed and liberated from the inside out. “ Go,
make disciples ,” he said. Go and be in the life-changing business. Jesus teaches us to keep looking for opportunities, but not to rush people. Step in when there’s an opening and receptivity, but don’t chase those who don’t want to change. Do everything out of love, but don’t be afraid to stir up the waters in someone’s life, because God uses that to get us all to step one. Don’t look down on anyone else, but don’t ever forget that all of us are sinners and lost and hurting. Remember to offer friendship and fel- lowship, but don’t ever turn this into something that somebody owes you. Don’t force anyone. But make sure that no one is left out or left behind. Make step twelve your own personal mission, but don’t try to do this on your own. When Jesus was training his first disciples to go and carry his message, he sent them out two by two. So team up with others and go where someone needs you, when someone needs you, and do whatever it takes to get them through that rough patch. This isn’t “imposing your religion” on anybody. This is love . At its best, at its purest, at its deepest, it’s nothing less than God’s incredible and undeserved and life-changing love flowing through us and touching others. Imagine the joy and the satisfaction of being used like that. Imagine that as a picture of the power of God’s transforming love that might flow through us in the prison you’re sitting in. Imagine the greater things yet to be done through us. Imagine what God could do with us. Imagine how pleased God would be with us. With eleven steps we get changed. With twelve steps the whole world gets changed. So keep on walking. Keep on walking like a Christian. Keep on walking like our Lord. Keep on walking to our Lord. Because God’s not nearly done with us yet. Keep on walking. God’s got some surprises up ahead. After all, you still have time.
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