In my opinion, the way to break down the walls we have in our own minds about God is to step outside those walls, outside of our comfort zone, and look directly into the eyes of Jesus.
Just like Peter jumping out of the boat, and walking on water with Jesus (even if only for a short while).
What happened to those who stayed in the boat?
Nothing.
But Peter, although he began to sink, experienced the miracle.
He experienced Jesus.
Leaving behind family and friends was my way of jumping out of the boat.
That does not have to be everyone’s way.
Not everyone who is called to a life of discipleship is called to live it among the poor or in a foreign country.
I believe that one could make this leap at home, but that would be extremely difficult.
There is something about leaving everything behind and completely relying upon Jesus for everything that is mysterious and wonderful.
I believe that every one of you could find this, could experience Jesus in the radical way we are designed to from home.
But it requires work.
It requires intentionality.
Go about your day looking for where God is moving.
Look for the person on the corner who is hungry.
Look for the person who blew out his tire.
Look for the angry person who has never had anyone reach out to him.
Reach out to these people.
It is not easy; it is not supposed to be.
Jesus calls us to pick up our crosses and follow him, to die to flesh, to even suffer.
But when we do, we are so greatly rewarded it far outweighs the pain.
This year has not been all peaches and cream.
There have been difficulties, trials, and failures to go along with the successes, but that is how God molds us.
I am not saying you can’t be a good Christian where you are in life, but when we step out in faith, there is a far greater impact on our own lives and the lives of others.
God calls us to step out in faith and trust Him.
What better way to do that than to leave home for a period of time.
It is a time to get rid of the distractions.
To get rid of the clutter we have built up in our lives that simply get in the way.
It is not the location that matters, it is the condition of your heart.
Don’t let the fact that I am writing this from Peru get in the way.
You can step out in faith in the US, but let your heart abandon everything but Jesus.
What would have happened if Peter had never left behind his fishing business to follow Jesus?
To summarize Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Peter could have stayed at his nets and lived an honest life, even experienced some nice religious things.
But he would not have had the radical life of an apostle.
He would not have spent his time following Jesus’ every footstep, and would not have reclined with Jesus at the last supper.
He would not have established The Church.
He would not have experienced Jesus.
So what do you want in life?
Do you want to live a radical life?
Do you want to live the abundant life God promises?
What is the abundant life?
Is it 60 hours a week in an office and two weeks vacation?
God calls doctors, God calls businesspeople, God calls teachers, God calls janitors.
I do not want to take anything away from that.
But the abundant life is a life based on the abundance of God, not the abundance of comfort.
It is a life full of joy because it is based on the joy of the Lord.
We draw our joy directly from God.
And we, as His children, get to experience the love of the Father.
We get to experience God!
It is a radical life.
Jesus is a radical, so I am willing to be a radical as well.
Are you radical?
