I’ve heard it read from pulpits and preached from stages more times than I can remember. And every time my heart burns within me and my desire for Christ is roused to a fever, ready to consume all of me.

But this time, as it blasted from the speakers on my iPhone (In Pursuit of Irrational Faith), I heard it’s full weight of decision.

It’s author is debated…but whoever he was, he knew what it is to be changed by Jesus and to desire nothing more than to live your life for Him. Whoever he was knew his Savior and had drawn a line in the sand on a day of great faith. Because the trials will come, but if you know where you stand before they hit and if your decision has already been made, then it is possible to come through the worst still strong.

“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed, the die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made –
I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ.
I won’t look back,
let up,
slow down,
back away
or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.
I’m finished and done with
low living,
sight walking,
smooth knees,
colorless dreams,
tamed vision,
worldly talking,
cheap giving
and dwarfed goals.

My face is set,
my gait is fast,
my goal is heaven,
my road is narrow,
my way is rough,
my companions are few,
my Guide is reliable,
my mission is clear.
I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.

I must go till He comes,
give till I drop,
preach till everyone knows,
work till He stops me
…and when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear.”

Usually, by the final words, my heart is so ablaze and my ears are so abuzz with hope and passion that I miss the final words..the cumulative weight of decision.
But this time, I heard it loud and clear.

“…and when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear.”

And the question burned through my ears and my heart and my mind.

Is my banner clear?
Is my banner Jesus? Pure, unadulterated, passionate, unashamed love for Jesus?

Or has my banner been twisted? Is my banner inspiration? Is my banner motherhood? Or singleness? Or marriage? Or church planting? Or Bible study? Or justice? Or world peace? Or fitness? Or motivation?
Is my banner anything other than Jesus?
Is your banner anything other than Jesus?

Because any flag I fly that is not all about Jesus isn’t worth my time.
And inspiration and marriage and church planting and justice and fitness are good, good things, but they are not the banner under which I should plant my name. And I can live and teach and serve in all those areas, but I must not plant my name under any other banner other than that of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and resurrected on the third day and waiting in heaven for me.

Because when my banner becomes anything but Jesus, my motives will be skewed and my perspective will be distorted and somewhere down the line I might forget who I am…a daughter of the King of Kings: beloved, adopted, accepted, and redeemed. And somewhere down this path, I might forget that Jesus is my identity, my passion, my purpose, my love…

I pray with passion that I never forget Who it is Who has loved me and called me and redeemed me and given me purpose. And I pray that I will never leave any room for doubt in anyone’s mind Who’s path it is that I have chosen.
I pray that I never leave doubt in my mind what path I am on…

When Jesus comes, will it be clear to Him and to the world around me that I have chosen Him above all else?
That I desire nothing more than I desire His presence?
That I have made my choice and nothing can change my mind?
That no matter what life brings, I trust that He is good?

Today, is it clear to myself, to the body of Christ, and to the world that I have made my decision and my decision is Jesus…no matter what?

Be blessed
<3

{NOTE: The version I heard this morning and posted in this blog is slightly shorter than most versions I found online. Either way, the message is clear and the words are incredibly powerful.}