Living Safely

If you are feeling safe and comfortable right now and you don't want to be challenged in your walk with Christ, then stop reading and we'll see you next time. That's right... stop reading and just check back on our next post. Because what I am about to say isn't for the casual christian, the just visit the church on Sunday and not even think about God the rest of the week person. OK... for those of you who are still reading, I just want to share something with you. I think we've been misled. I think that for most of us who have been in the American church for any length of time, that we have been given a "Gospel" that isn't fully true. Sure, we've heard a portion of it, but for the most part, a lot of what this Christian life is all about has been left out. You see, I think we as pastors do our people a dis-service when we tell them that all they have to do is pray a prayer or fill a card out at the end of a service and that's it... kind of like getting a lifetime country club membership or like getting a get out of jail free card that never expires. I think that's wrong. Sure, salvation is free. It's was paid for by Jesus over 2,000 years ago and there is nothing we can do to earn it. But, there is a price to pay to follow Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, "that if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." Now the cross (or the assignment) that you and I have been called to bear is different. He may be asking me to one thing and you another but one thing is the same... He's asked us to deny ourselves. Everyone. Everyone has to deny themselves the things that we want to do. He has a perfect plan for each of us and the plans are all different but they do require us to deny our self and put aside our plans for His. And that will sometimes be something that requires a step of faith... a step of faith out of our comfort zone... to the place where it doesn't feel safe. But that's OK. He will always require those of us who progress in our Christian walk to take steps out into thin air, where it is only Him who can sustain us. Look back at anybody in the Bible who did anything for God... at some point they ALL had to step out into the unknown or the uncomfortable... Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, the Prophets... and that's just naming a few without even getting into the New Testament! The bottom line is this... God is calling us all to a deeper walk with Him that will require us to put aside our plans and pursuits and step up to the assignments (or our cross) that He has for us so that we can change the world for His Glory! Because that's what it's all about... changing the world. God isn't trying to torture us by asking us to do difficult or sacrificial things. He's trying to position us so that He can work through us to touch people's lives. I know that this was long today, but we need to ask the Lord, "are we doing what you want us to do?" "Or are we just living safely?"

My sister-in-law told me about this video clip and it goes along with today's blog so I thought I'd share it with you. Enjoy.

In Him,

Jim