side note: This picture is a running joke with my husband and our friend, T, that it is our "band" picture. It reminds of us a band picture in which the lead singer is in the front, with the members behind them. Hah. It was actually taken at the hospital when we were visiting my cousin Kristy back in 2009.
side note 2: I had really wanted to get this posted yesterday after church when stuff was still fresh on my mind (horrible memory here) BUT after working an 11 hour shift, I was done. I just wanted to come home, watch Walking Dead with the hubs, and go to sleep. One blessing? I had Jury Duty set for today, BUT, when I called over the weekend, they said my # was EXCUSED. YESSSSS!!! I really wasn't looking forward to that!
As I've mentioned a few times over the last two months, my young adults class at church is in the process of working through
Radical by David Platt. What an eye opener. Today we went over chapter 8 which I found quite interesting as well.
Basically, it was going into depth a little more about what Jesus asked of his Disciples and just how serious his commands were and are. He clearly commands that following him involves risking the safety, security, and satisfaction we have found in this world.
'Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it' - Matthew 10:39. The book then gave an example of a faith family that went to Southern Africa to provide medical clinics to various impoverished communities. Upon arrival one of their vehicles was hijacked. The driver was pistol whipped and thrown into the trunk. By God's grace no one was hurt but the team knew the great risk the trip involved. They would be working with countless patients with HIV. They discussed all the precautions they needed to take but knew there was no guarantee one wouldn't get stuck on accident with a used needle. BUT, just a few days into the trip it happened. One of the women from their faith team was struck with a needle that had been used on an HIV infected woman. As if that weren't enough, a couple of hours later, it happened to a second team member. Both members knew the gravity of this, and do you want to know what they said? "Were just glad it happened to us and no one else." WOW. The selflessness.
Jesus tells the Disciples
'I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.' - Matthew 10:16. Basically he says 'I am sending you to dangerous places, where you will find yourself in the middle of evil, vicious people. And you will be there by my design.' We don't think like this today, our thinking is more a long the lines of 'If it's dangerous, God must not be in it. It it's risky, it it's unsafe, if it's costly, it must not be God's will.' We also think that if we become more like Jesus the world will love us, when it fact it's quite the opposite. Why? Because the world hated Jesus.
Jesus asks that we love God above all else. This is hard to fathom nowadays. It's a hard pill to swallow when it comes down to putting Jesus first, over your family. But, the fact of the matter is, it's what is asked of us when we give ourselves completely to God. My friend
Erin recently posted a powerful story that I have read before and want to share with you:
***
The church's pastor slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and before he gave his sermon for the evening, he briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening.
In the introduction, the pastor told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends, and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service...
With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak...
A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific coast, he began.
When a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized.
The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in the story. The aged minister continued with his story...
Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life:
To which boy would he throw
the other end of the life line.
He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son's friend was not.
The agony of this decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves.
As the father yelled out, 'I love you, son!' He threw out the life line to his son's friend. By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of night.
By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old minister's mouth.
The father, he continued, knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus.
Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save his son's friend.
How great is the love of God that he should do the same for us. Our heavenly Father sacrificed his only begotten son that we could be saved. I urge you to accept His offer and take a hold of the life line He is throwing out to you in this service.
With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side.
That was a nice story, one said politely, but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian.
Well, you've got a point there, the old man replied.
Glancing down at his worn Bible, a big smile broadened his narrow face. He once again looked up at the boys and said, It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But, I'm standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up his son for me.
You see...
I was that father.
Your pastor is my son's friend.
***
It was stated that the closer you become to God, the harder things become for you many times. This is true in that Satan
does not want us building a closer relationship with God, and in that, if he sees it happening, he will do his best to detour it. This may (and often time does) mean more trials and tribulations for you. It's like the old saying '
when it rains it pours' BUT, the beauty of it all is, if you have God on your side. It doesn't matter. It will all work out according to his will.
To everyone wanting a safe, untroubled, comfortable life free from danger, stay away from Jesus. The danger in our life will always increase in proportion to the depth of our relationship with Jesus. Maybe this is why we sit back and settle for a casual relationship with Christ and routine religion in the church. It's safe there, and the world likes us there.
My husband said it best in class this morning. If you are at church and you ask a fellow brother or sister "Hey! How's it going?" and they reply with "Ah, man, it's perfect. Life is great! NO PROBLEMS HERE!" one may wonder exactly how close they are to God at that time because it is not easy, it is not perfect, and the more you are sharing the word, and living for God, the harder it gets at times. The world may hate you, some people you know and love may argue with you and not support you, BUT,
God loves you.
'Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, Rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both the soul and body in hell' -- Matthew 10:28. Basically what Jesus is saying here is 'Don't be afraid of people, the worst they can do is kill you. God is the ultimate judge. Fear him.'
Matthew 10 teaches so much. The key we have to learn is how to take back our faith from the American dream. Instead of focusing on worldly desires and pleasures, we need to focus our lives on another world -- a heavenly world, with eternal treasure that will never spoil or fade.
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose" -- Jim Elliot
Chapter 8 was the last chapter in Radical. Then they have some suggestions for partaking in the
Radical Experiment which you can do over a year.
I am already doing some. Here they are:
1. Pray for the entire world; think of all the areas that are persecuted just for believing.
2. read through the entire Word. -- I have not done this yet.
3. sacrifice your money for a specific purpose.
4. spend your time in another context.
5. commit your life to a multiplying community.
I have
never, ever read through the entire Bible. In fact, as a newly saved (2008) young adult, there is a lot that I have yet to read. My goal for 2012 is to read through the entire Bible in
one year. I know there are plenty of
one year programs to help you read through the Bible and that's exactly what
I plan to do. BUT, I was wondering, would anyone else like to join me on this challenge? I was thinking about doing a link up, maybe once a week, or once a month, in which we could summarize what we've read and learned during that time of study? Please let me know if you might be interested. Just leave a comment below letting me know if you are interested, and I'd contact you from there. We'd start on January 1st, 2012.
