(I got a little bit behind, sorry!) 🙂
(Sunday) Wherever? Write down a list of places (local, abroad, etc.) where you would not be willing to go. Will you entrust that list to the Lord?
(Monday) Whenever? What loose ends do you feel like you need to wrap up before you can be serious about your faith-walk? What’s more important?
I had an imaginary conversation with God this week, and it went something like this:
God: “So, what time do you want to meet for lunch today?”
Me: “Whenever, Lord.”
God: “Let’s say noon.”
Me: “It’s really crowded then. How about 11:30 a.m., instead?”
God: “What do you want to eat?”
Me: “Whatever, Lord.”
God: “Let’s have Thai.”
Me: “Eww, you know how sick I got in Thailand that one time. Besides, I don’t like curry.”
God: “But, I like Thai.”
Me: “Fine, which Thai restaurant do you want to go to?”
God: “The one in Thailand.”
Me: “Where?!?”
God: “But, you said you’d follow me whenever, wherever, whatever.”
Me: “I meant anywhere but there, Lord.”
I know better than to say that I would never move someplace (Never say never!), but there are certainly spots on the globe that I would rather not go. No offense to the breathtaking terrain and colorful culture of Thailand, but if I had my druthers, I’d prefer to not go back. I became violently ill the one time I was there; consequently, the smell of curry makes my stomach churn, even to this day.
When we sing songs in church with lyrics like, “Where you go I’ll go,” or “I surrender all,” do we really mean it, or are we just giving lip-service to God? I don’t believe that God calls each of us to a life of poverty or compels us to move continents away from our extended families, but I think the point is that we are willing if he does call us, and that we are open to his voice. We are each gifted in unique ways (check out 1 Corinthians 12 and take Crosstraining 301 to learn more about spiritual gifts). He expects us to use those gifts to his glory, no matter where we are. Be assured, though, that our faith-walk does require sacrifice. It may not mean getting cholera and typhoid immunizations and relocating to South Asia, but it could mean inviting your grumpy co-worker to church or giving up an evening of television every couple of weeks to tutor at C4.
Whenever. Whatever. Wherever. Do you mean it?
(Originally posted January 29, 2012)
After Peter denied Jesus, he went back to doing what he did in the old days: fishing. When we decide to follow Christ, let’s not look back.
Imagine that Jesus was coming over for dinner tonight. What would you do to prepare for his arrival? Is he welcome to make himself at home?
Are you following Christ because it’s your choice, or are you following the footsteps of a parent, spouse, etc? The decision is yours alone.
Think back to your first crush or the early days of dating your spouse. Wasn’t it fun to show your affection? How can we show God our love?
2 Corinthians 6 reminds us that our invitation is waiting. Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day your life can be brand-new!
Have you, like Peter, ever denied (or tried to hide) your faith in Christ? Talk to him about it today and accept his forgiveness.
Close your eyes for a moment and imagine that you checked the mail and saw a letter from Jesus, addressed to you. How would you feel?
The year was 1986. His name was Danny. He was funny, cute, never once called me “four eyes” like some other mean boys who shall remain nameless, and I had it bad. I mustered up the courage to write Danny a “check yes or no” note to see if he LIKED me liked me, or if he just, you know, plain ol’ liked me. Days and eons passed with no reply, and my self-esteem plummeted. Finally, one day on the way to P.E., he passed me in the hallway, smiled and handed me a folded note. He’d drawn a heart on the front of it.
This story isn’t about a sappy, romantic outcome, because Danny moved away shortly thereafter, and we lost touch. (Back then, there was a per-minute, long-distance fee to phone another town, and we had to use these things called stamps to correspond in writing.) What it boils down to is a question that we all need to know the answer to: Do you LIKE me like me, or do you just like me? The question goes beyond tweenage crushes and cuts to the core of our hearts, because it’s something that Christ asks each of us.
Jesus once put Peter on the spot and asked him a similar question in John 21. You may remember Peter from the crucifixion story—he’s the one who denied knowing Jesus three times over the course of one night. Our story picks up after Jesus was raised from the dead, and he appeared on the shore where Peter and others were [unsuccessfully] fishing. They realized who he was and had a meal together—after Jesus helped them haul in a miraculous catch. During the course of their conversation, Jesus posed the question three times to Peter: “Do you love me?” It was his way of reinstating Peter for denying him.
Jesus isn’t going to force us to love him or drag us along as mindless followers, without a will of our own. He offers us a choice to love him passionately and to follow him wholeheartedly. The Bible is his love letter to us, filled with grace, mercy and an eternal promise. Will you check yes or no?
(Originally posted January 22, 2012)
faith, sweat & tears 