Called by One; Living for One?

    

   As an individual who is constantly tempted to live as if I have to measure up to the expectations of those around me, Os Guiness’ reply to his world, “I have only one audience. Before you I have nothing to prove, nothing to gain, nothing to lose. (p 71)” evokes an overwhelming desire in my heart to be able to say the same thing. These audiences for whom I perform consist of my parents, siblings, professors, and friends, not to mention American society.

    Since my early years of childhood, it has been an up-hill battle for me to place these outward expectations in their proper place, subjected to the standards of God. Indeed, in reading “Rising to the Call” I realize the world’s standards should not only be placed below God’s standards, they should have little or no influence on the way I live. By “the world’s standards”, I mean any outside standard or expectation that does not receive its authority from God.

    Living for an audience of One as a student at a Christian university is a struggle. It is deeply rooted in us as students, especially as honors students, and as humans to strive for the approval of others, specifically those in leadership. The expectation to excel both in class and out is almost tangible on campus. I’ve found that the desire to live for God as my only audience is not enough to overcome these pressures.  The grace of God is required in order to live for an Audience of One.

   I’m struggling to accept God’s grace in this area as well as many others. My tendency is to try to earn it, which then defeats the purpose of it being grace. So for now, I’m learning to graciously receive grace as a gift so that I can live more fully for Him.

Questions:

1.    What are some ways that we can practice looking to God rather than our world for approval?

2.    Os Guiness says “Faith therefore means restlessness.” (p 87) I’ve never heard faith described in this way; how can I reconcile this with the church definition of faith, which seems to be “belief in God”.