I’ve had the experience. I’m sure you have also. You’ve been shopping for a car, considering all the models and options. Eventually you make your final decision and purchase the vehicle. Let’s say it is a charcoal gray Honda Pilot. Suddenly, it seems that half the town owns a charcoal gray Honda Pilot. You had never noticed it before. This is a common phenomenon, and evidence that ownership leads to greater recognition. Because you now own a Pilot, you notice them everywhere you go.

Ownership leads to greater recognition.

Possessing and Pursuing Christ

One definition of ownership is, “the act or state of possessing something.” When we possess, embrace, and pursue Christ and His purposes our eyes are open in surprising ways to recognize opportunities for growth, ministry, and meaning in life.

When we possess, embrace, and pursue Christ and His purposes our eyes are open in surprising ways to recognize opportunities for growth, ministry, and meaning in life.

Failure to Comprehend

For example, in John chapter four, Jesus is ministering to the Samaritan woman at the well in a profound gospel interchange. When the disciples returned to see Him speaking with her it says, “They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you seek?’ or, ‘Why are you talking with her?’” (John 4:27). They had no interest or perception of what was really happening. Instead they wanted to talk about whether or not Jesus had any lunch. He responded, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (v. 34). He then turned to His followers and said, “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest” (v. 35).

The disciples had not yet fully understood or embraced the meaning of the gospel. They did not recognize the opportunity that was unfolding beyond their physical observations. They were focused on the immediate and temporal. Too often, in our failure to abide in Christ daily, we become dull and blind to the spiritual opportunities all around us. We fail to recognize the many ways in which God is at work and how He is calling us to join Him.

Too often, in our failure to abide in Christ daily, we become dull and blind to the spiritual opportunities all around us. We fail to recognize the many ways in which God is at work and how He is calling us to join Him.

A couple of chapters later, Jesus’ unbelieving brothers urged Him to go to Judea and “show himself to the world” (John 6:3-4). Jesus responded, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.” In this case, the unbelief of the brothers made them ignorant of God’s timing, such that any sense of a divine plan was irrelevant to them. Sometimes, our failure to walk intimately with Jesus places us on a superficial dimension that leaves us unaware of the Lord’s plan and timing in our own lives. Our recognition of His ways is obscure.

Our failure to walk intimately with Jesus places us on a superficial dimension that leaves us unaware of the Lord’s plan and timing in our own lives. Our recognition of His ways is obscure.

In Acts 1:6-8, we find the scene of Jesus’ final interchange with His disciples just prior to His ascension. They asked Him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (v. 6). They were still thinking of an immediate earthly kingdom. Jesus assured them that the Holy Spirit would come and transform their focus on the gospel mission that would spread from Jerusalem to all the world (v.8). The indwelling Holy Spirit changes everything. He draws our heart into intimacy with Jesus — to discern His will, live by His power, recognize His plan, and engage in significant ways in His mission.

The indwelling Holy Spirit changes everything. He draws our heart into intimacy with Jesus — to discern His will, live by His power, recognize His plan, and engage in significant ways in His mission.

Your Daily Recognitions

So, to what degree are you “owning” the character, truth, and mission of God in this world in a way that leads to recognition of the countless opportunities for eternity? As gospel believers, indwelt by the Spirit and abiding in His word, the “eyes of our hearts” are to be wide open to recognize God at work and accept His invitation to join Him.

As gospel believers, indwelt by the Spirit and abiding in His word, the “eyes of our hearts” are to be wide open to recognize God at work and accept His invitation to join Him.

Here are some applications that have come to mind for me in recent days:

• When we pursue the holiness and grandeur of God we will recognize our insipid pride, leading to a life of deep worship and genuine humility. Failure to do so results in a life of self-reliance and status quo religious living.
• When we embrace the pure and glorious character of Christ we will recognize our personal character flaws, leading to a life of authentic personal transformation by His grace. Failure to do so results in stunted spiritual growth and scrambling around by standards of human comparison and performance.
• When we “own” the ministry of Christ we will recognize the countless opportunities to serve others, resulting in a life of unselfish, joyful pursuit of His kingdom purposes. Failure to do so results in always wanting to be served by others and a downward spiral of selfish living.
• When we pursue the priority of prayer we will recognize His worthiness and our neediness, leading to a life of spiritual satisfaction and answered prayers. Failure to do so results in living independently of Him, frustrated with our own carnal pursuits.
• When we embrace the need for revival we will recognize the many evidences of spiritual devastation in society, leading to a passion for profound Spirit-empowered solutions. Failure to do so results in an obsession with temporary fixes and a waning passion for the supernatural life God has promised us in Christ.

When we “own” the ministry of Christ we will recognize the countless opportunities to serve others, resulting in a life of unselfish, joyful pursuit of His kingdom purposes. Failure to do so results in always wanting to be served by others and a downward spiral of selfish living.

Take a Drive – Adjust Your View

So next time you are captured by the sight of a “twin” of the car you own, let it serve as a spiritual prompt. Ask yourself, “Am I embracing the things of the gospel today? Do I really ‘own’ the person and mission of Jesus in my heart? Am I living with a Spirit-prompted recognition of His ways today? Do I see what He wants me to see to embrace the eternal opportunities He has planned for my life?”

Ownership leads to recognition. He owns us through His finished work on the cross. We must embrace Him by the word and the Spirit in daily intimacy. He will enable us to recognize a true gospel lifestyle and the many occasions of an eternally significant life.

Ownership leads to recognition. He owns us through His finished work on the cross. We must embrace Him by the word and the Spirit in daily intimacy. He will enable us to recognize a true gospel lifestyle and the many occasions of an eternally significant life.

Copyright © 2018 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.