The Father can’t use anyone until He removes the I.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a brother in Christ, who lost his life in following Jesus only to gain it back, nailed it.

“When we have completely renounced trying to make something of ourselves – be it a saint or a converted sinner, a righteous or unrighteous person, sick or healthy in the here and now, which is living in the fullness of tasks, questions, successes, failures, experiences and feelings, when we have done this, then we can completely throw ourselves into God’s arms, take God’s own suffering in the world seriously rather than our own, and keep watch with Christ in Gethsemane.”

Keep watch. Pretty simple task, right? Apparently not.

Jesus brought His disciples, minus Judas, to Mt. Olivet. He tells eight to sit tight while taking three others to another spot. It was here they saw Jesus, who probably for the first time as a man, fully understand the gravity of what was about to come His way – the Cross.

The three saw intense grieving/sadness. What did He tell them to do? Sit tight and stay awake. However, no matter how hard they might have tried to obey a very simple request, they failed.

The answer to this fa lure? Nail the i to the cross. How often do we think about our feelings, ourselves, our needs, our wants, our desires, rather than stop. Sit. And ask, “Lord, what do You want?”

Tired? Keep watch. Satisfied? Keep watch. Why? So, you won’t fall into the temptation that puts your eyes on I/self – self-preservation, self-confidence, self-promotion.

Run into the Father’s arms, who will use suffering to rid us of the i. As He does, Christlike transformation takes place, which makes one useful for the Kingdom of God as people will see Jesus – the giver and sustainer of life – in us.