chill out?

Chill out, self control, calm down, don't get so excited...all phrases I have heard lately that have made me really pause and think about our passion for Christ-or maybe our lack of it.
We worship with our hands in our pockets and with distracted hearts. We walk with a mediocre step that looks a lot like the rest of the world. We pray as if we aren't sure there is a God who will answer. We sing as if the love song we once knew has faded. We serve with half our heart only half the time. We have lost our focus, our drive, our motivation, our heart, our passion, our love....
However, we play sports with all our might. Dedicate all of soul to our work. Sing in the shower with all our voice. Dance to the rhythm of the world's beat. We cheer with all we are for our college team. We shout, we raise our hands and we sing with all we are-the fight song of the Tigers or the Cocks. We stay late for work and leave church early. We cut grass til we sweat, clean til it shines and practice til it hurts-all for things of little eternal significance.
But we want to chill out when it comes to the God stuff. We want to calm down, remain in control and not get too excited. I wonder if that is what Jesus is saying as He sits beside the throne of God. "they need to chill out. They are getting too excited down there." Or maybe, "they need more self control....get those arms down!" No....I think not....I can't help but think that Jesus is looking at the Father saying....that's all they Got? I died on a cross for them, suffered the whipping post, crawled down the via dolorosa...and all I get in response to that is pew sitting, hands in pockets, hymnal holding, scripted, mediocre following, status quo walking, people pleasing worship. That's it...that's all the response I get?
I can't help but believe that Jesus is crying out....get excited...don't you see what I did? Don't calm down, lose yourself in me and show the world how awesome I am. Unleash the passion in your soul. Begin a revolution of praise for my glory that points everyone to the greatness of who I am. Don't chill out....get on fire! Turn up the intensity, be focused, intentional and purposeful. Be my reflection! Be Bright, pierce the darkness. Be Alive, bringing life into death. Be Present, so that I am seen. Be Truth, destroying the lies. Allow the Jesus inside to burst forth from the controlled and the contained.
Be transformed.....
Chill out...I don't think so. And neither does He!

ALL FOR YOU