Test Yourself!

Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them from sacrificing and risking for God. Excerpt taken from Crazy Love by Francis Chan


Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith: examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5


I've been thinking about these quotes and this one too: Jesus said, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...I will be with you always even to the end of the age, from Matthew 28:19-20. The command in the middle of these verses is to GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES. Am I playing it safe when it comes to making disciples? Hey, I made disciples of my children as they were growing up - I've done my duty. Right? What a poor excuse! It's not something to check off my list of things to do - it should be a way of life. Look what comes before the command : ALL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME and what comes after: I WILL BE WITH YOU ALWAYS. Do I really believe this? Is my faith real in my life? Am I trusting the One who has authority and is with me? I have no excuses. The Lord commands it - it's His mission and there is nothing to fear as He goes with me.


I used to think that going door-to-door to talk to strangers, cold turkey, and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ was for certain people with a special kind of gift.  I would say that's not my thing. I was really saying that I didn't believe that my God would be with me as I met new folks. I wasn't acknowledging the command to go. It was fear of the unknown and imagining the worst that kept me from getting involved. I certainly don't have control over how someone will respond to me or what hard questions they might ask, but is that important? I know the One who has all control and has the answers, so there is no need to worry.  I don't want to be lukewarm; I want to be on fire for the Lord. I believe that means stepping outside my comfort zone and seeing what God will do. He wants to reach people to add more worshippers to His church. I'm certainly being selfish if I don't want to share Him with others. Praise the Lord that He works with me and nudges me along, as always, in His loving and patient way. No more playing it safe! Jesus said, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men."