ATAPAT

There is a bizarre little acronym starting to catch on at our church and with our listeners. And for that I am glad. It is, if you haven’t heard, my abbreviated and colloquial way of referring to what Jesus was getting at when he addressed his would-be disciples. It is my attempt of encapsulating the challenge in Christ’s refrain: “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39; Matthew 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; et al.).

Jesus clearly calls us to exchange our priorities and goals for God’s. He commands us to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” allowing our agenda to take a backseat (Matthew 6:33). We must then, with all true followers of Christ, be quick to say, “Any thing, any place, any time” – ATAPAT! We must do any thing he says, go any place he sends, and begin any time he asks.

May the Holy Spirit enable us to live that ATAPAT lifestyle for the honor of Christ and the glory of God.