I cannot believe it is already Thursday! Where has this week gone to?! It pains me that my time off has already come and gone and I am just now getting to my dose of Crazy Love for this week. BUT, the time certainly wasnt wasted.
I found a whole new book that I must recommend. No lie, I digested this book in a day. It's that amazing! It's called Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo. This true story of Todd's son, Colton, serves as an inspirational look at God's hand and the promise of Heaven. Colton had a visit to Heaven during a life threatening surgery and this book recalls of the details from this 4 yr old's perspective, as told by His dad. I could NOT put it down. If you have questions about Heaven or wonder if Heaven exists, READ THIS NOW.
Now, onto this week's thoughts on Crazy Love!
In chapter 7, Mr. Chan challenges our thoughts on living out love. Are we doing things that are "safe", to show God's love? Or are we trusting that, in all situations, God is going to show up and therefore we are doing things out of faith in His hand...even if they aren't always the safest? The beginning of this chapter gives multiple scripture based examples of men and women who God used, who weren't perfect by any means, but had undying faith and therefore God used to exalt Him. His best cannot happen when we take root in our comfort zones. We have to be willing to place full faith in Him and step out, even when that is scary.
- "Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers."
Are we predictable? Do our outreaches end at feeding the homeless, an occassional visit to a widow, a few flowers sent to a funeral, and taking meals to shut ins? Because if that's all the world sees us do, then yes, we ARE predictable. Those activities, while beneficial to the recipients, are generally safe. Think of the impact we could make if we decided to not be so "safe" in our outreach. What if we got down in the dirt and showed love to the completely unlovely? Jesus did. What if we actually pushed past stereotypes and loved people because HE first loved us? What if we got out of our safe little Christian bubbles and actually sought to reach the LOST..and not just the backslidden or easily accessible? Oh the options!
Ministries all over the world are doing this very thing, so why arent we? XXXChurch is reaching out to those in the Adult Entertainment industry by setting up Bible booths at porn shows, offering church services to Vegas visitors, providing a way out for prostitutes, strippers, and ex-porn stars and providing accountability to those suffering a porn addiction. This ministry is showing God's love to those who the church deems "unsaveable and dirty". Mercy Ministries is reaching out to lost and broken women who have been told by the church that, they too, are past saving. The church doesnt know how to deal with the ugly truths of eating disorders, self mutilation, addictions, sexual abuse, unplanned pregnancy, and more. But by reaching out to these women, Mercy is showing God's mercy and providing hope and healing, transforming lives and restoring hope. The founders of these ministries saw the need to get "uncomfortable" and step out of the box to live out love in faith. How much more could be done to further the kingdom if we all lived out love in this way?
- "Christians today like to play it safe. We want to put ourselves in situations where we are safe "even if there is no God." But if we truly desire to please God , we cannot live that way. We have to do things that cost us during our life on earth but will be more than worth it in eternity."
The chapter concludes by asking "What are you doing right now that requires faith?".... So think about it, what, right now, are you doing that is stretching you to the point of fully relying on God to accomplish. Anything? If the answer is nothing, I challenge you (and me as well) to push ourselves out of the place of comfort and into the place of faith. Let's start not making sense to the world. Let's live out our love in faith.
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