Trying to sell and "empty me" faith to a world bent toward "give me."

​These lyrics from the Jeremy Camp song CHRIST IN ME hit me in a very challenging way driving into work this morning. Here's why.

So many times my prayers are focused on the things I want God to give me. Many times I pray if you'll just give me "this" I'll be able to do more of "that" for you. This morning this song reminded me just how backward my prayers are. And in turn, how my life is often backward.

Because the Christian truth is this: the less I have of this world, the more I have of Christ. What a brave song to sing, a courageous prayer to offer - come empty me.

That's why Christianity is a tough sell. In a world that looks to acquire more we're trying to sell a faith that works best, a relationship that grows more beautiful and intimate, when we say take more away - give me less. Empty me until I have only Christ in me.

I listened to my boys yesterday talk about the next toy they are saving up for. The next thing they want to add to their collection of things. This not long after the collection has just been added to at Christmas. To be honest, it drives me crazy. But in moments of writing like this I realize they aren't much different from me. I'm 53 years old and still so much of my focus is GOD GIVE ME, NOT GOD EMPTY ME.

Here's the powerful final part to this song. It's brilliant really.

Camp seems to acknowledge Christianity is a tough sell because it IS so counter culture. But in the last words in the lyrics I share here he seems to sing with some desperation, some pleading, "I need the world to see that it's Christ in me."

What a statement. There is great power, maybe no greater testament to our faith, no greater sales pitch for Christianity, when in complete emptiness the world sees me filled with joy and contentment. Not the joy and contentment that comes with adding worldly things to my life, but the joy and contentment that is uniquely Christ.