Starbucks made me cry.
Yes, there I was sitting on the floor of the Starbucks bathroom crying.
How did I get there? I had never cried over work in the past 10 years, but that day I found myself with my head in my hands weeping over my bad day.
Later at home I decided I’d pick up the pieces of the morning and read a book by the pool. I opened up the pages. That’s when it happened. The rain came. Apparently I had my own personal rain cloud following me that day.
We all have them; bad days. And maybe at the end of yours you’ve found yourself weeping on a dirty bathroom floor too. Sure it was a first for me, but you know, real life happens sometimes and you just have to have a good cry.
I thought after I left work how awesome it is to be able to rely on a God who cares deeply about my hurts and bad days. But instead of His consoling arms, I got rained on.
I’m thinking I should be offended.
Thanks for the comfort and loving support, God.
How thoughtful. How generous.
But I didn’t get up and leave out of my irritation. I sat there. I had no control over the rain and I let it happen.
Perhaps God has offended you. If He hasn’t, He might.
He probably will.
I had to tell my friend who came with me to church for 6 months the truth of what God really asks of us. She loved the way she felt so happy inside when she prayed and how great it was to sing songs and how nice it was to know people who were so kind. These are all good things and a real part of following Christ. I hated to burst her bubble, but the truth is that He asks us to hate even our mother and father, to sell all of our goods to the poor and let the dead bury their dead just to follow Him.
That doesn’t sound very nice.
In fact, it sounds down right offensive. You want me to hate my parents in comparison to loving you? You want me to be able to let go of all the things I’ve worked so hard to achieve for the sake of eternal things? And you want me to make a decision now? Can’t it wait? There is so much to do and experience. I’ve got my family. I’ve got some vacation time I’d like to use. I’d like to focus on myself because I deserve it.
He wants our relationship with Him to be exclusive. That’s hard to palate. It’s not a popular story.
It’s not popular because it’s not the easy decision.
I told my friend the truth of how God wants relationship with her. It offended her. It required not just a part of her, but a complete denial of herself.
That was the last I heard from her. And I experienced what scripture meant when it says:
Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. 1 John 3:13
It was very painful to lose a friend when I didn't expect the gospel to offend her. I forget that others can't always see how Love drives the gospel.
Truth is I’ve chosen a path that isn’t necessarily popular or easy. I’ve made decisions for my life that the world would laugh at and even be shocked to know because it just isn’t done.
This is why the gospel is offensive.
It takes all control away from us and puts it in the hands of
One we can’t see
But I see Him moving and working every day.
One we can’t hear
But He speaks to me so clearly.
One we can’t touch
But I feel His presence daily.
One we have never met
But He lives in me.
And He asks us to leave all and follow Him.
I should be offended. I should be furious. I should be outraged.
Instead, He calls me blessed.
Matt 11:4-6
Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
Luke 9:23-25
Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters–yes, even their own life–such a person cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26
Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
“Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “?‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself. ”
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 19:15-22
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Luke 9:60
So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. Luke 5:11
