I will never regret stepping out in faith and doing the World Race. It has been the best and the worst at times. God has used me out in these countries to touch the lives of so many people. Not by my own ability but only by His. But He has also just taught me so much while I have been here. He has shown me how to better love and serve, how to passionately seek Him out, how to share the revelations that He has given me, and how to better make a difference for His kingdom! It’s so hard to put to words what I have seen, but the simplest way to describe it is, God is moving!
During this time, God has really put on my heart the importance of seeking Him daily by prayer, studying the Word, and just abiding in Him. Through that, I have also seen the importance of discipleship. Whether we know it or care to admit it, every single Christian is called to make disciples. Simply the Great Commission. But why do we not take that calling seriously as Christians?
I was listening to a pastor the other day who was guest speaking at another well known southern church. He opened up telling the congregation how blessed they were to have a preacher who lives and teaches by the truth of the Word and nothing else. He said “I want to remind you because you may get desensitized to how great you really have it.” You may get so used to hearing the same greatness that it just seems normal and dare I say almost boring.
It’s like a good slice of apple pie. It’s always going to be the same, but if you take for granted how great it tastes, it will seem normal and boring after so much. (Sorry for the weird analogy, but I love apple pie)
I think the same can be said for the Gospel. The fact that the all powerful and sovereign God decided He loved His imperfect creations so much He sent His one and only son to die for us and take on our sin so that when He looks at us, He sees His son! Holy crap that’s amazing! God as a man literally took unimaginable amount of pain up to death just so we could be with Him. Aside from the fact that Jesus is God, imagine the love that you would have to take that beating and ultimately death for your child, for your spouse, for your brother, for your sister, for someone you love. Take that emotion and just multiply it endlessly…. Yep still can’t even compare to the love God has for us. That love should overcome us and fill our hearts to the point that you have an aha moment. “Wait, why am I not doing everything I can so that people can know and experience the love I have received from God.” It’s 100% the same offered to them!!
Here’s the kicker. That aha moment is a wonderful revelation, but it takes action. It takes choosing to seek the Lord daily. It takes choosing to battle your flesh daily (good news, you ain’t doing it on your own. Choose to seek God to fight for you). Love is a choice. (Side note: If you’re not loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, then you will not be able to love people like Jesus did.) Jesus took action and made a choice to lay His life down for us. Jesus wasn’t passive. Jesus didn’t say “Well someone else will come along if I don’t do or say anything.” He ain’t passive!! Love is not passive. Love is a choice.
There’s an old quote from an atheist man I heard years ago. It’s a little lofty wording for me so i will paraphrase as well.
“How much do you have to hate someone to not proselytize?”
-Penn Jillette
“How much do you have to hate someone to not share the love of God that has changed your life and the same love that wants to change theirs.”
-Penn Jillette (paraphrase that Austin more so understands)
