Sacrifice vs. Opportunity

I came across this quote today from Leslie Ludy (a Christian author and speaker) that really made me stop a minute and think about what kind of risks I am willing to take for God.

She said, "Many of us are happy to sing songs about Christ, write about Him, and talk about Him to other believers, but often when the true test of loyalty comes, we choose personal comfort over radical abandon to Him.  We might take a few small risks for our King, but if He asks us to make a significant sacrifice, we often reason, 'If I went that far in my devotion to him, I'd be putting myself at risk.  I'd be making myself vulnerable to discomfort and pain.  I can't give up everything for Him; it's just not reasonable!'  But Jesus Christ gave up everything for us.  And He is asking if we will give Him everything in return.  Saying a whole-hearted 'yes' to this priceless opportunity is the secret to discovering the vibrant, victorious Christianity of the Bible."

Is there a risk that God is asking you to take for Him?
Are you willing to take that risk, if only to discover the amazing adventure God has in store for you?

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship."  - Romans 12:1

Do Not Conform!

As we are beginning a new year, a lot of you probably made New Year's resolutions in some form or another.  A few of you may have already broken the resolutions that you made...  What if every Christian dedicated their year to being different?  You are probably thinking, "What?!  Be different?  No way!  I have spent the last three years of my life trying to fit in and now some crazy person wants me to be different again?"  Sorry to break it to you, but the answer to your question is, Yes, I am suggesting that you stop trying to fit in with the world.

Where on earth did I get this crazy idea?

The Bible!  Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing, and perfect will."

Did you catch that first part of the verse?  "Do not conform to the pattern of this world..."  This verse is telling us that as Christians we are not supposed to act like the rest of the world does.  Let me give you an example of what this might look like.  Your two friends begin saying hurtful things about an acquaintance of theirs.  They tear the girl to shreds verbally and tell each other about all of the girl's failings and flaws.  You have a choice.  You can either go with the flow and join your two friends in their gossip, or you can do what you know is right and put a stop to their unkind words.  Which would be the easiest to do?  I think that most of us would probably rather pick the first option and join in the girls' conversation even if it makes us feel a little guilty.  Here is another question for you:  What do you think Jesus would do in this situation?  We don't have to dye our hair pink or something like that to look different from the rest of the world.  It can be simple things like the way we talk about people or how we treat people.  

The Bible is our ultimate authority that tells us what is right and what is wrong.  Just because everyone else seems to be doing something doesn't make it right.  It is very hard to resist peer pressure, but 1 Corinthians 10:13 says that God will provide a way out when you are tempted so that you can stand up under the temptation.  Sometimes in order to do what is right you will have to do it alone.  While it may seem that no one else is going along with your resistance to the world's way of doing things, God is always there with you.  When you are acting in accordance with His Word, the Bible, He will always be on your side.

Christian author and speaker, Voddie Baucham, once said, "People won't know you are a Christian by the way you mow your lawn."

What did he mean by that?  You can't be a passive Christian.  Being a Christian is an active duty of standing up for the Truth.  Sometimes it isn't enough to just "be a nice person," sometimes you have to be willing to speak up and tell people why your life is different from theirs.  

I challenge you to quit conforming to who the world has decided that you should be and stand up for the truth of the Bible.  If you do this prayerfully with a mind and heart open to God's leading, I believe that He will completely transform you.  Are you willing to be different?  Are you willing to step out of the world's mold that you have squeezed yourself into?  Are you ready to stand up for Jesus and let your words and actions be a light shining for Him?