Deciding vs. Jumping

The scriptures teach us that we do not know the day or the hour of Jesus return. But If you knew that Jesus was returning today what would you change about your life.
• Would you love more?
• Give more?
• Pray more?
• Talk to others about Jesus more?
• Invest in others more?

Steve Jobs in an address he made to Stanford grads back in 2005 said this:

“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: ‘If you live each day as if it was your last, some day you’ll most certainly be right.’ It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “no” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something. “

I think we Christ followers could ask the same question. “If today was the day that Jesus would return would I want to do what I am about to do today? If you answer has been ‘no’ for too many days in a row, you know you need to change  something.”

Romans 12:1-2

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Paul pleads with the Christians in Rome to give your body to God because of all He has done for you. Be the kind of living and holy sacrifice that is acceptable to God. This is how you worship him. Once you are infected with Jesus (two blog entries ago) giving your body to God and being a living sacrifice gets easier. Why? Because you begin to understand sacrificing your comforts, sacrificing your time, and sacrificing your resources for the sake of others has an incredible effect on the world around us. You begin to understand that people really do matter God. Their soul really matters to Him.

People matter to God and God matters to people – you are the link between the two. This is your mission – you are the one who connects the two together. 

God is calling us to be a living and holy sacrifice. This is what it is going to take to connect the two because your holy and living sacrifice is what softens the heart of people and allows the Holy Spirit to do his work in their life.       PT

What you sacrifice to bring others to a relationship with God matters. Because Your sacrifice is what brings God and that person together. In other words, you sacrifice because they matter to God.

Missionaries around the world live in this mindset every day.  Missionaries give up the comforts of their own countries, their families, and focus in on the mission that God has called them to. As I think about the life of missionaries, as Christ followers, we are called to do the same thing. We are living in such a time that you don’t have to go overseas to be a missionary. As we learned last Sunday, there are opportunities in our own back yard. There are people here in Grant County who do not know the story of Jesus and that he died on the cross for them. The scriptures teach that the harvest is white …. Which means there are opportunities everyday if we look for them.

In my youth group back in the 80’s a new kid started coming to church. He found Jesus. He studied the scriptures. Memorized some portions of scripture. We would call him “on fire” for the Lord. My friend worked at Wendy’s. I found out later from him that after work one day a week – he would hold a ½ Bible study for his co-workers. People mattered so much to him he wanted them to know about this Jesus who changed his life. I don’t remember any of his friends coming to church with Him but he took them to church. There are opportunities in your work place. There are opportunities in your family. There are opportunities if we are willing to sacrifice something.

If you remember David Blough from Purdue (a few blog entries ago), he didn’t know how to lead his football friend to Christ so he went and asked the campus pastor. He wanted his friend to know who Christ was. His friend mattered so much to him that he went out of his way to learn and got counsel on how to do it. David sees himself as not only as a division 1 quarterback but as a missionary to Purdue. A couple of weeks ago he published some pictures of some of his friends who were baptized at the church he attends at Purdue. FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) has grown exponentially since he  has become its leader.

Do you see yourself as a missionary in work place? In your school? In your profession? Maybe even your own family?

In the next verse Paul gives us some tips on what it looks like being a missionary right where you are:

Tip #1 –  Don’t copy the customs and behaviors of this world

It is so easy to copy the customs and behaviors of this world and not realize we are doing it. Each generation of Christ followers has struggled with it.

These song lyrics came out about ½ century ago that really sums up the behavior of Christians and non-Christians alike:

And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I’ll say it clear,
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain.

I’ve lived a life that’s full.
I’ve traveled each and every highway;
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, I’ve had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.

I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried.
I’ve had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.

To think I did all that;
And may I say – not in a shy way,
“Oh no, oh no not me,
I did it my way”.

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows –
And did it my way!

Yes, it was my way.

Now compare the words you just read (or sang if you are a Sinatra fan) to these words:

I John 2:15-17 – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

The cravings we have for this world do not come from God. Worshipping our achievements and possessions does not come from God. We have a craving to copy the behaviors and customs of this world.   It is a lot easier to do things my way …. We understand it …. We don’t have to struggle with it. But when Jesus enters your life and you become infected with His teachings …. Well …. Your desires change. Your focus in life changes. The way you think even changes. And struggles incur. 

When Jesus matters to us , your craving change.

Look at the lyrics to this song:

1. I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
Refrain:
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.
2. I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I’d rather be true to His holy name
3. He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead

Living your life according to the lyrics of this song will affect every decision you make. It will affect how you behave in this world. Jesus needs to matter to us more than the things we own. Jesus needs to matter to us more than the person(s) we love. Jesus needs to matter to us more than the stuff we want. Jesus needs to matter to us more than anything this world has to offer.

Tip #2 – let God transform you (jumping in)

There’s a story of young boy who had a riddle he wanted his dad to solve.
The young boy said, Daddy, if three frogs are sitting on a limb hanging over a pool, and one frog decides to jump, how many frogs are left on the limb?

His dad replied, Two.
No, the son said. Listen carefully, daddy. There are three frogs and one decides to jump. How many are left?

Dad says, Oh, I get it, if one decides to jump, the others would too. So there are none left.

No daddy there are three left on the limb. The first frog only DECIDED to jump.

There are a lot of people who have decided to follow Jesus but never have jumped in with their heart, mind, and soul.

They have decided to follow Jesus  – But they don’t love their enemy or brother.
They have decided to follow Jesus – But mistreat their spouse and kids.
They have decided to follow Jesus –  But live their life how they want – they want it their way.
They have decided to follow Jesus – But don’t love those who persecute them.
They have decided to follow Jesus –  But don’t love their enemy.
They have decided to follow Jesus – But don’t practice the fruits of the spirit.
They have decided to follow Jesus – But don’t tithe or give generously to the his bride – the Church.
They have decided to follow Jesus – But don’t spend any time in prayer or study to get to know Him.

In other words, they decided that following Jesus is a good thing but they are going to do it their way.

When you do jump in he will change the way you think about yourself, others, and God. You begin to understand what God’s good pleasing will for your life is. His will for  you is definitely about serving others. Where and how you do it is up to you.

When you jump all in – you become infected with Jesus – which makes you contagious.

Those who are contagious:

Do all the good they can

By all the means they can
In all the ways they can
At all the times they can

To all the people they can,
As long as ever they can.
-John Wesley (letters of Wesley)

Going back to the question at the beginning of this blog entry,

“If today was the day that Jesus would return would I want to do what I am about to do today? if your answer has been ‘no’ for too many days in a row, you know you need to change something.”

Is there anything in your life that needs to change?