Wow, my apologies for being such a delinquent; it has been entirely too long since I took the time to blog. Here's to doing a better job in the future...
What a challenging scripture we looked at yesterday, Matthew 5:11-16. I believe that one of the most difficult aspects of following Jesus is the great cost that he really does require. And specifically here in the USA the cost to follow Jesus, according to societal norms at least, is very small. It may mean going to church once a week, it may even mean giving some of my income to the offering plate, and I may choose to serve in the church by teaching or preparing meals or some such act. But very rarely do we deal with the hard and deep costs that following Christ can and should mean to all of us.
We have learned from numerous studies that the lives and practices of those who profess Christ don't look any different than those who don't profess his name. And all I have to do is look in the mirror to confirm the validity of these studies. There are more times then I wish to admit that the decisions I make are based more on pragmatic means than on the heart of Jesus. I can claim the name of Jesus and make decisions that I'm sure will cost me the least. I embrace Jesus' ethic of loving others and bearing with them and then I turn around and just throw a little money at them, feeling like I've done my part yet I have been unwilling to go to the depth of their struggle. And what I find out about myself is that I'm actually quite scared to just completely abandon myself to Christ's call because I may not be able to do what I want to do and have all the things that I have determined that I want. So, in the end my prayer is not, "Lord have your way." It is more like, "Lord have your way, as long as it fits into the life that I have begun and laid out, don't ask me to give up too much, just enough that I feel good about myself and others take notice of my great 'faithfulness.'"
Have you ever struggled with those sorts of thoughts? Do you ever wonder if God may be asking you to give up more of yourself and take more of him? Do you know of aspects in your life that you know God has challenged you on, but you have refused or tried to ignore his voice?
God, may you help us to lean hard into you as you call us to deeper and deeper commitment and cost. Give us the courage to trust your faithfulness!
Wow Bob, that's some early morning blogging. So good. So here's my dialogue....I feel like I do ask for God to rock my boat. I think I'm ready for some crazy uncomfortable action. But what does that mean? I have no idea. I know he's asking me to give up more of myself for himself. I feel like I'm ready, but where am I going? Along with your other blog post, I don't need to worry about 11 years from now or 5 or 2, but today. But where's the line between just living each day for Jesus right where I'm at and actually planning and taking steps to live them more radically for Jesus maybe somewhere else doing something else?
ReplyDeleteI don't know. I do know I'm a 24 year old chick hanging out in my hometown that would rather not make big life decisions. Maybe I'm hiding?
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun to be on adventure with Jesus? There are a bunch of questions that come along with that and you nailed them as I have had some of the same questions.
A personal example, I was in PA working at the missions office and really desired overseas missions experience. I tried many different possible avenues and all the doors were closed.
Finally, I surrendered it to the Lord and told the Lord that if he wanted me to work at the missions office to give me peace that I was where I was suppose to be, but if he wanted me to go overseas somewhere, open the door.
A couple months after that, God opened the door and I headed to Hondruas for 5 months along with a couple months of discipleship training. I was approached about that opportunity and I did nothing to make it happen. All the pieces that came together over the next months prior to my departure were all God things! That is an experience I will never forget...the importance of surrender.
Since then, I have asked God many times how I can make a difference right here in Abilene KS. (I never imagined I would be living in Abilene Kansas again!) I remember very distinctly Christmas morning of 2008 and my quiet time with the Lord. I prayed and asked God to use me and to help me find ways to invest in peoples lives. God began opening those doors right here in Kansas and with people who are my "neighbors". How is the Lord going to use it, I don't know, but I want to be faithful with what he has shown me and the opportunities he has given me.
What all the Lord has in store for me, I don't know, but one thing I do know is that he uses willing hearts/lives that are surrendered to Jesus. What he does with my willing heart is up to him, but I know it has to be good. I just need to be faithful and trust the Lord to guide my every step and then be obedient.