Can I be honest with you?
Fomo is real. (This means ‘Fear Of Missing Out’ for my more seasoned crowd)
Sometimes I look at the World Race and think of the amazing adventures I’ll have or the fun team that’s going to become my family. I’ll think of the many different people I will get to share Jesus with. But, sometimes my mind goes to the things I’ll be leaving behind – friends getting engaged and married, my sister’s first year of marriage, dad’s 60th birthday/ Sarah’s 21st, my relationships will change and friends will move on, I’m pushing off my career and grad school, I’ll be 24, single, and moving back in with my parents when I get home. My mind can become consumed with what I’ll be missing and the pleasures that I’ll be giving up.
But isn’t that part of it? -Forsaking (giving up, renouncing) everything else for the Gospel, getting uncomfortable so that souls can know how deeply satisfying and beautiful a relationship with Jesus is!
Man, sometimes it’s hard for me to live with that perspective, but oh how I want each day to be consumed with Christ’s purpose. I’m reminded again, by a God who patiently allows me to relearn His truth, how He is better than comfort. Here are a few things God has spoken to me through Luke 9.
1. Be certain of hardships, but I am worth it.
Luke 9: 57-58 “As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Sometimes the cost of following God’s direction in your life requires forsaking comforts. We may not know where we are going to lay our head at night, like the verse says, or we may be uncomfortable with the way people view us, the beliefs of the Bible that contradict the ways of the world, or the distinct life God has called us to live. Uncomfortability is part of a deepening relationship with Jesus. I am not guaranteed an easy life, but I am promised an eternal home with Christ (John 14:3, Rev. 21:4) and I am blessed with the joy of helping to direct others to that home.
2. Be able to leave all for my sake.
Luke 9:60 “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
It’s easy for me to make excuses. My goodness, I gave you a whole list at the beginning of this post. But God is calling me to have an even greater eternal perspective and to flee from excuses. In this passage, Jesus asked the man to leave something that meant so much to him (family burial) to follow Jesus. In the same way, He is asking you and I to forsake things that mean so much to us for His sake and something that means so much more in eternity.
3. Your home is with me.
Luke 9:61 “Yet another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’”
Another one of my excuses is to remain in my comforts and security at home with my family. But, God is saying, and I have experienced, that He is so much greater than my comforts and He is my eternal father and home. I do not need to cling to things that will pass away, but go forward with the certainty and comfort that God has covered and secured me.
4. My heart wants all of your heart.
Luke 9: 62 “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
In my life on mission for God, my tendency can be to look back to the things that give me temporary comfort or seem more appealing in my shortsightedness. Often times I’ll have one hand on the plow loving others or living the way that God has commanded, but I’ll look back carefully making sure not to step too far out of my comfort zone. But to live in true service of God is to hold everything else as less important than Him. He deserves a heart that does not long for the world, but that longs for Him. God, give me an undivided heart (Psalm 86: 11).
So what does it truly mean to live each day, even all of the small decisions, in submission, relinquishing my own comfort for Christ’s gain (and for the gain of those who hear His gift of salvation!)? It takes a heart that is solely following Him, ready and active in forsaking all else for our glorious Father. It takes understanding the Gospel because when I truly understand what God is offering then I am impassioned to leap outside of this bubble that I so easily fall back into.
I’ll leave you with this quote from Charles Spurgeon. Let it challenge you like it did for me.
“Now, you fearful ones, come out and refuse to be numbered with the unbelieving world… Now do you think that if it were necessary for you to jeopardize your best earthly interests for Christ, you could do it? Could you lose your character for culture and courage by avowing the old faith in these apostate days. Can you leave all for Jesus? Should it rend the fondest connection, should it break up the brightest prospects, could you take up the cross and follow your Lord? It is due to Him who died for you that you should count the cost, and reckon it little enough for his dear sake if you may but do him honor.”
Prayer Requests:
-
An attitude like Paul in Philippians 3:8 – “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
-
Entering training camp (June 7-17th) with a heart rid of pride and ready for pruning
-
No anxiety/ worry about the unknown of training camp
-
$5000 needed by mid July
