Here in America, we are relatively safe.
We are fairly comfortable.
Life is often pretty easy.
We find ourselves free from many dangers.
And we thank God for this safe, comfortable, easy life.
And yet, Jesus didn’t come to this earth to make our lives comfortable and safe. It is extremely hard for us to remove from our minds this notion that God came to make life easy. Here in America – this land of plenty – we have so much. We know that God has blessed us. But why has He blessed us? Is it so we can gather up more and more of His blessings so that we feel more safe and more comfortable? Is it to keep us free from danger, tragedy, and pain?
Hmmmm…. That does not seem to be the way that the disciples lived. Instead, they lived radical lives for the gospel, not focused on their own safety and blessing, but rather on sharing the message of Jesus in the midst of danger and at the cost of their very lives. It was a dangerous calling that caused beatings, pain, suffering – and they rejoiced in the midst ofthis dangerous calling.
They had discovered that Jesus’ “beauty shines most brightly when He is treasured above wealth, above health, and above life itself.”
They realized that “if we can learn to enjoy Christ and magnify Him even in the midst of pain and suffering, we show the world where our true love lies.”
Some of us might say, “But I am ready to die for Christ if it came down to that.” That may be true, but though we might be willing to die for Christ, the question is whether we will choose to live dangerously for Him?
“Some of us would be willing to die for Christ, the question is: are we willing to live for Him, suffer for Him, and magnify Him with our lives…. What we are willing to die for shows our belief, but what we are willing to live for and suffer for shows our radical commitment to our beliefs.”
We must love Christ above His blessings. We must love Him above our comfort. We must love Him above our safety and life of ease. We must value Him above the American Dream that we often find ourselves chasing.
To help understand this even more fully, click on this link to watch an excellent 2.5 minute video on the difference between the prosperity gospel and loving Christ in the midst of suffering.
youtube.com video – the prosperity gospel
“What you love determines what you feel shame about. If you love for others to applaud you, you will feel shame when they don’t, but if you love for men to make much of Christ you will feel shame when His name is belittled on your account.”
(quotes by Jon Piper in Don’t Waste Your Life)