C O M F O R T A B L E.
A word that has entrapped and enslaved most of us today. We sit and bathe in it. We find it in almost anything. Movies, food, relationships, books, etc. Now, I’m not saying that these things are bad, but they usually want our attention only to themselves. They call and beckon us to sit and enjoy them for a little while.
But when we give in, when we become trapped, we not only become addicted, we are rendered useless for the kingdom. We are held back from all we can accomplish because we sit rather than take a stand. We fall back rather than rise up and go.
“It’s safe here. It makes me feel good. There are no real dangers here.”
Oh, but the danger is real. Because the danger isn’t really the things at all, the danger is letting Satan win. And he wins when Gods people are rendered useless. When they sit and don’t fight for the lives of others. When they become so comfortable that ministering and discipling others becomes unappealing.
I’m reading this amazing book called “Radical” by David Platt and it has been so convicting. One of the things he talks about is the American dream. What do you believe it to be? Graduating college? Getting a high paying job? Getting the house that looks like it came off of Pinterest? Establishing a family? I definitely thought that if I could get all of those things, I would have the happiest life.
But isn’t there more to life than just gaining all the happiness and success I can get?
Say we reach the ultimate dream. Say we accomplished all the things listed above. Then what?
We live in world all about me me me and gain gain gain. But, what if that’s not what life is all about? What if there is more to life? What if instead of me, it’s other. What if instead of gain, it’s lose. That’s exactly the life God has called us to live. To leave the comfort and become, wait for it….uncomfortable.
*shudders*
Being uncomfortable is definitely not the first thing we want to do to ourselves. Stepping out and being bold is scary. Confronting people and fighting for what’s right is uncertain. Heck I can’t even talk to the person sitting next to me on the plane because it makes me uncomfortable. But maybe instead of focusing on how I feel, I focus on the person themselves. They have a story. They have struggles. They long for what we all long for: belonging, hope, a reason, and a purpose. And we fellow believers have that to offer.
So why don’t we?
Because we would rather sit in our comfort than put it aside and do the very thing we were called to do: make disciples. This isn’t just a command for those who are called overseas, this is a command for every single person in Christ. It isn’t an option, its a necessity. Because what if someone held back from sharing the gospel with you because they gave into their comfort? What if that person decided to not share their story of how Jesus transformed their lives which in turn lead to Jesus transforming your life? That would be so sad, but what’s even sadder is us deliberately choosing to hold back what someone else didn’t hold back for us.
I’m not saying it’s easy. Because it seriously isn’t. I struggle daily and fall short daily in this. I want to give into my comfort. I don’t like being bold and sacrificing my comfort; no one does. But what’s more important, my comfort or Jesus? My safety or living a risky but joyful, fulfilled life? That’s a question each person has to ask themselves. A question you have to ask for yourself.
Because the American dream isn’t really all its cracked up to be. Living only for the benefit of yourself drains you, but living for the benefit of others and God fulfills. It gives you life and purpose. Real purpose. And it’s the life we were meant to live. Being intimate with God and making disciples in his name. All for His name, all for His glory. And his glory is ultimately our good.
Thanks for reading guys. You rock my socks.
-Kyla Cal
