Have you become too comfortable where you are? Are you content with the way things are around you? Maybe your attachment is so strong, the thought of uprooting, or even making a change, scares the daylights out of you.
As I think back on Paul's life, I bet he struggled with the same things. I bet he grew attached, maybe even became a little comfortable, and I do stress a little. As often as he was thrown in prison, beat, and starved, I can't imagine him, able to get as comfortable as we do.
With every church he planted, he met and served alongside men and women he grew to love and adore. But Paul always knew his stay would not last long. Paul found out throughout his ministry how often several of his churches became too comfortable and content with sin and little growth, thus calling them out with boldness and love.
I think we have the same problem and need to be called out as well. We have become too comfortable in our own homes, towns, and lives. We have grown immune to the sin in us and around us. We fuss about the problems but what are we doing about the problems? We lack boldness, compassion, and fail to promote peace.
Instead we demand our way, cause dissension, and we have even segregated ourselves. We have made it more about religion than a personal relationship with Christ. There is only ONE GOD and ONE BODY. So why are we splitting churches? Why are we saying one is better than the other, why are we not working together as one body that stands on the Word of God and shouts with one voice? Instead there are so many voices it has become utter chaos. No wonder the lost are confused. They see and hear two different things.
What keeps Jesus from completely wiping us out? I only know one answer to that. Romans 2:4-11 "Don't you see how kind, tolerate, and patient God is with you? Or don't you care? Can't you see how kind he has been in giving you time to turn from your sin? But no, you won’t listen. So you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself because of your stubbornness in refusing to turn from your sin. For there is going to come a day of judgment when God, the just judge of all the world, will judge all people according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who persist in doing what is good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and practice evil deeds. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on sinning-for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good-for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.” Grace and mercy that is why!
The changes that are being made, are they made to better ourselves or to exemplify the Lord? Do we sit and wait for others to do something, or do we follow the Lord's leading and get busy doing all things in His name, for His glory, with love, compassion, kindness, as one body and in peace?
The biggest devastation I see about this comfortable, complacent living are the lives that are being affected. If we tolerate sin within our homes, lives, churches, schools and communities, so will our children, generation after generation.
We need a Jesus change brethren, wouldn't you agree? Let’s not wait for our letter or God’s wrath to turn from our sinful ways. Let’s change now, because Christ is coming and He deserves nothing but our absolute best.
Jesus we have become to self –focused, thus losing sight of what is most important-YOU. Forgive us. May we who are called by Your name turn from our sins, humble ourselves and pray. For then, You will bring healing to a very broken world. Amen
