Own IT!

You don't own it until you experience it!

OWNING YOUR FAITH

What does it mean to own something, instead of stealing it, or borrowing it, or merely looking at it on Amazon? If you own it, it is yours. You are responsible for it. You can use it. You can test it. You can even abuse it. You can take it apart and put it back together again. You can ignore it. You can wear it out. You can throw it away. It is yours.

But I have in mind that when you own something you have an experience that goes with owning it. I was given a 410 shotgun when I was young, along with a box of shells. It didn’t take long for me to experience the thrill of firing it, going hunting with it, and bringing home dove and squirrels with it. The shotgun was not an idea, a picture, a desire, or a dream; it was real, and it was really mine.

For awhile I want to address some of the spiritual gifts, promises, commands, and examples we must experience to own. For me it will be a gut check to being honest with whether I actually own it or not. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 may be the reverse of what I am aiming for, but it illustrates the relationship between ownership and experience. Speaking in the tongues of angels, prophesying, fathoming mysteries and knowledge, moving mountains by faith, giving all I possess to the poor, or even being martyred for Christ are profound experiences which must be validated by love to be something, not nothing. But the reverse is true. I can say I have love, but unless it is being experienced by me in the life of a real person in a real circumstance at a real time, I do not own love.

It is my desire to own the Christian life. No more talking about it, or shopping for it, or trying it out. Own it. Buy it. Take it home. Use it. Wear it out. Give your faith scuff marks. Let it get dirty with use. Risk it becoming thread bear at times from constant use. A lot less talk and a lot more action. Let’s see where this takes us. YOU DON’T OWN IT UNTIL YOU EXPERIENCE IT.