DEVASTATED PART 3: THE CHALLENGE

Devastated Part 3 The Challenge.

Webster’s Definition

Challenge: To confront or defy boldly: Dare

When I think of the word challenge I have memories of my childhood, being challenged to do something I was uncomfortable with, jumping into the river, rock climbing, deer hunting, scuba diving (really my life is not as interesting as it may sound). Most of those things I love to do, and as I look back I am glad that I at least tried them and that I experienced the thrill that they offered. However, there are things that I am challenged with that I run scared from, afraid of the sacrifice or the work that it might take to accomplish the thing that I am being challenged with.

One such instance occurred with a friend of mine a few weeks ago. We decided to meet up at favorite chicken sandwich joint, CFA. While watching our girls play in the play place we sat and talked, just catching up with one another, and out of left field she asked me, “Hey, do you want to run a marathon with me?” . Honestly, my knee jerk reaction was NOOOOOOOO!!!! However, I do have a severely messed up knee that I’m probably going to have some sort of surgery or serious action taken upon it at some point that physically prevents me from doing such a thing. Now with that being said my initial response was NO regardless of any physical ailment. Too much pain for sure and the sacrifice I couldn’t begin to wrap my mind around that. Now this particular friend God has given me through His Grace and Understanding that I need someone in my life who will push me, believe in me, and kick my tail when it needs it, not because she is some supernatural spiritual women (although she is pretty amazing), but because she has allowed God to do that in her life through her relationship with Him and with others who do the same for her. Friends who boldly and lovingly speak truth and wisdom into your heart and soul are of the greatest value in life.

However, more importantly though do we allow God that place to examine us and show us anything in us that does not line up with His will for us.

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

What if we had hobbies, however innocent, that were distracting us from anything that He was wanting to show us? Has my pursuit of my hobbies or interests become an idol? Am I so distracted that I miss so many things that He is wanting or needing me to learn in order to face whatever may be down the road in my life? The thought struck me …what if we fell on our knees in complete humility, giving everything of ourselves in worship to Him? I mean, He sacrificed His only Son for us what are we willing to sacrifice for Him? Is “me time” (pinterest, downton abbey, crafting, etc…) really more important than knowing my heavenly Father? Now if you get a knot in your stomach like I have we have to ask ourselves the question “ Are we really wanting to see His face and truly be His or are we content with the pittance that we get in our weekly or bi-weekly attendance at church?”. Do we really want to be where He is? Do we want to Feast at His table daily, saturated by the goodness and wholeness that He offers or are we content with our little bowl of weekly porridge that meets the nutritional minimum? If we want more, we MUST be willing to humble ourselves and bow before the ALMIGHTY MAKER of heaven and earth? To seek, see, taste, know, to behold and be beheld. Do we believe that when we call upon Him that He will answer? Have we lost even the faith of a mustard seed?

Luke 17:6 “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to the mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

What has happened to us? We want it to be our way right away, but that is dung. It leads to death.

Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death”

When we are not pursuing God we are walking as dead men and women. We need to be pursuing God. The Word of God is where it is at people. If we are not diving in, drinking deeply at the well that He so freely gives us, then we are dead. We have no life. His word is life giving, having the power to change our lives if we only believe it. God shed His ONLY son’s blood for us and we sit preoccupied by whatever tickles our fancy and sadly in total ignorance of what He is capable of. His ways are higher than our ways and how foolish we are to believe or live like anything else.

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Now if you have never experienced the life giving transformation that Jesus offers… He waits for you.

Revelation 3:20 “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

He wants you just as you are.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

We are all messed up and sinners, Lost without a Savior

Romans 3:10 “ as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one;

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 5:8 “but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 10:9 “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Romans 10:13 “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified (made right or pure) by faith, we have peace with god through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

He is calling will you answer?

Now, whether we have a personal relationship with Him or not He is calling. Are we willing… to be MADE willing to be DEVASTATED (Changed beyond recognition) and allow the glory of God to arise in our lives and shine like never before? That is the CHALLENGE!!!