The View From Here

Church Sunday was one of the most life changing experiences I have had in my walk with Jesus.  First of all, let me explain something that I have realized.  Being in a body of believers can bring on pride. We want to look, talk, and sound like a Christian.  This is just a part of fitting into a specific social setting.  We all do it to one level or another.  (It is a shame that Christianity has become, to many, a social setting and not a spiritual setting) So when we are struggling we start to hear the lie that tells us that we shouldn’t be struggling, so to save face we act like we aren’t.  We all want others to think as highly of us as possible.  This is just the opposite of how people in the church should function.  The body of believers is there for the specific purpose of praying for, and encouraging each other.  All of us, as believers, will encounter many times when we will struggle (more times than we will admit unfortunately) and it is during these times that we should be the most transparent with each other.  Instead we are embarrassed or too proud and we tell ourselves that we are just fine on our own.  That is a lie.  Don’t believe it!  It is the enemies attempt to corner us, separated from the rest of the body.  That is about as dangerous a place as a Christian can go: isolated, vulnerable, and in denial about their current situation.

Well, I have found myself recently trending toward this line of thought.  I have even been aware of it and have tried to avoid this but my efforts always fall short.  Instead of being transparent with my fellow believer I have started closing up about any struggle that I might have.  All of that to get to this: God moved powerfully in me this past Sunday.  I usually try to take notes during church and I started but by the end of the sermon I was so zoned in on what was being said that I had stopped.  The Spirit was speaking exactly what I needed to hear through Garrett.  I was reminded that a Christian that is not transforming to be more like Christ has good reason to look into their salvation.  We cannot just get to the point where we are comfortable with how our life is and go stagnant.

A great example was shared on Sunday and I would like to impart it to you. During the end of the Hebrews captivity in Egypt they were told to kill a lamb and spread it’s blood on their door posts.  In this way they would avoid the wrath that God was sending on the Egyptians.  We can assume from what Exodus says that all of the Israelites did as they were commanded.  By doing this they were protected from the wrath.  Soon after that the Egyptians let them go with Moses.  What if some of the Israelites had said, “You know what, I like my life here.  I don’t think I want to leave.  This is where I am comfortable.”  Those of us who accept the blood of Christ but then decide to follow the worlds standards instead of God’s are exactly the same, choosing comfort over their Savior. 

Be either hot or cold.  Make your choice.  God spits out the luke-warm.  We can’t have one of our feet on land and the other in the water.  We must fully immerse ourselves in Jesus.  Whatever he asks of us, we must do. Wherever he calls us, we must go.  This life is but a vapor.  Have an eternal mindset.  We can’t take anything with us.  If your chains have been broken then don’t act like you still wear them.

I want to follow Jesus no matter what.  This is something that will take planning on my part.  I must be intentional.  I don’t need to set aside time for Jesus, he needs to dominate my time.  If I am going to enjoy the gifts God has given me for this short time in this body I should plan times to enjoy them so they don’t end up dominating my time.  I am ready to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Jesus even if it means out of the place that I am comfortable or being more transparent with my brothers and sisters in Chist.

Brian