The Christian life is about more than conversion (the moment you accept Jesus) and resurrection (after physical death and stepping into eternal life with Jesus). It is about what happens between. It's about discipleship. It's about walking in the footsteps of Jesus. This year's journey of discipleship and service is about learning to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and to love people as He loves them. Discipleship is about a change of heart that is reflected through actions. And discipleship is not an easy; quite the contrary. Loving people as Jesus loves is HARD.
This month at Vida Joven, the workers have taught me what love REALLY means- that love is a verb, an action, a daily choice NOT a feeling. They love one another, prefer one another and serve one another on a daily basis. These people so greatly demonstrate the missionary heart- a cry to embody this love for others. A love that is compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, forgiving and thankful as Paul describes in Colossians 3. It has been so humbling to see their unity and joy in the simple things of life.
When accepting Jesus, when choosing to come on the World Race, I did not sign up for an easier, more content life but for a life of purpose and a life full of overflowing joy, peace, patience, service and love. A 20 year old girl says it best in her letter to her church family before setting out on her own missionary journey. This letter was only to be read in the event of her death on the mission field.
"When God calls there are no regrets. I tried to share my heart with you as much as possible; my heart for the nations. I wasn't called to a place, I was called to Him. To obey was my objective; to suffer was expected. His glory, my reward; His glory, my reward. The missionary heart cares more than some think is wise; risks more than some think is safe; dreams more than some think is practical; expects more than some think is possible. I was not called to comfort or success but to obedience. There is no joy outside of knowing Jesus and serving Him."
She has pretty much describes my life to a T. I take risks. I care more than I should. I dream exponential, God-sized dreams. I have packed up and abandoned everything to follow Jesus around the world. Crazy, right? I know there is going to opposition to my life dreams, aspirations and desires. I know I'll be misunderstood, mocked, challenged, ridiculed and possibly even worse. Did I know this when signing up for the Race? Yes, I counted the cost. I decided it was more worth while to spend myself and my time pouring myself out for the cause of Christ than to conform to the patterns of the world. As Jesus teaches in Luke 14, one must count the cost before embarking upon a building project or else he is likely to run out of material before the project is finished. Likewise, we are to count the cost before choosing to accept Jesus and enter in to this process of discipleship. You can't be half a Christian; Jesus calls us to be all in or all out. He calls us to a life of perseverance, endurance and says DO NOT QUIT!
So here's my question to you: are you in or are you out? In Revelation 3:15-17 Jesus says that it is better to be either hot or cold than to be a lukewarm, half-hearted follower. What would it look like if you lived a life of complete abandonment and surrender to the cause of Christ- loving him more than anything else and placing your life completely in His hands?
