Most of us are born in the greatest country in the world which is the United States of America, despite the turmoil and the uncertainity we face in the world today. We are blessed in the USA by God! As the time of writing this blog I am sitting at a Caribou Coffee in Charlotte, NC sipping on a Caramel Northern Lite Cooler while enjoying free
Wi-Fi internet. The drink with tax cost me $4.21. Most of us in America make at least $33,000 in a year. Did you know if you make at least $33,000 in a year your in the top 1% of income earners in the world. We are so spoiled in this country.
One of my friends from my guy's small group at Elevation Church was telling us about his 4 months out in India last year. He told us most families out in India have to survive on 24-40 cents a day. We are talking about providing for a family of 8 on 24 cents a day. On a low cost day for me including gas and all I spend around $10 a day give or take. This means we are so spoiled and blessed in America. Many of the children die of starvation in India and this breaks my heart.
In Luke 9:23-24 Jesus tells the disciples," Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." Jesus is saying if you want to be a true follower of me well you better be able to give everything up and put me first in your life.
Some of the things I am giving up for The World Race to follow Jesus are:
Finanical Security
Friends
Family
Elevation Church
Starbucks/Caribou on every corner
Comfort
Hot Showers
Safety
My Car
Very low risk of death
2 Jobs
85% of my possessions
I am trading this in for:
No showers for days
Sleeping on the ground
Getting Lice in my hair and beard (I am excited about growing a beard!)
Uncertainity
Possible theft of possessions
Risk of serious injury or death
Persecution for following Jesus
Following Jesus 100% is no Joke! Are you willing to sacrifice security to spread the gospel into a hurting world? Just something to think about today.
Thank God for everything He has provided you because honestly we deserve Nothing!
God Bless
Blake
