Step

This is about the fifth start to this blog today. It is just one of those days where several thoughts have come to me buut then as I start to write they just don't seem to go anywhere. You may be thinking in your head that that is what happens alot in your Blogs Mike but that is not my point. I just have been getting to a point where I stop and draw a blank and then start to re read the text. Once that happens I just kinda freeze up and then have scrapped what I have written.

Any Christian that is reading this at this time, ask yourself when the last time you shared your faith with someone? When was the last time that you invited someone to church or your small group? The men's group? Ask yourself why. Is it fear? Did you just now shrug your shoulders and have no answer? it could be that you don't think that they are interested. But is that your descsions, or God's? Really now, be honest, is sharing your faith even the most important part of your walk or is it something else, something a little more comfortable?

I think that gets to my point, being comfortable. For some reason we like to work right within our comfort level. Maybe a little outside of it when we are having bursts of divine inspiration but for the most part we like to be right inside our comfortable little box, just us and Jesus. Maybe we can fit a few friends in our box with us but in that box is where we stay. Don't get mad, I do it myself, you don't see me doing street evangalism, and the thought of it scares me. But you will have to agree that you have a comfort zone.

I believe that the church needs to be challenged more, the individuals need to be challanged before the church will truly make differences in peoples lives. We celebrate the stories of somone bringing a non believer to church as a victory, but then don't seek for everyone to have that experience in their lives. We see the good that can be done, but we don't do it ourselves. We almost would rather watch as others do what we know we should be doing ourselves. TV generation.

I believe that inherant in each of us is the call to do great things for God, to stand and live for Jesus but one simple thing stops us from doing so. Fear, very simple task for satan to accomplish. To test their faith, make them fear. If we would just step past it in that faith then Jesu Christ would come alive to us. think about the shy woman who one day was able to wittness Jesus to her coworker, how big of a smile do you see? Why, because she conquered the fear that mostly holds her back. Stack these events one after another in her life and I bet you wouldn't be able to stop her wittness.

How about Small Group Intimacy? Is this not just a way of illiminating the fear that you may have in talking with a stranger? I know, it is so much better feeding sheep then messing with pigs. Who wants to have to put themselves out for another unconditionally, like offering your self to a stranger in search of Christ. It is a good thing that God doesn't close His small group doors to newcommers! What would we all have done if that happened. Poured out offering, if we are truly following Him.

I think sometimes about being a comfortable Christian. Having a nice safe Church where after the Pastor pours his guts out for forty five minutes you can just get up and go home. revisit the subject a couple times a week, be challenged by your other Christian friends who are doing the same thing you are. Then doing it again the next week. Then I consider this, that there is no way in hell that the cross was comfortable for Jesus Christ. If it was not comfortable for Him to pay so dearly for me, why should I have the benefit of just giving nothing back?

Fear is of the devil. He is the only one who wants you to be so wrapped up in yourself that you forget what you really should be doing. We should be out stepping just past where we thought we should stop and in that momment, looking to God for everything else. You can continue to be safe and stay in your box, or you can begin to experience you faith at its fullest, when it is giving all to God as you step.

Lord, give us all strength in that moment when we begin to step past ourselves. Have us truly look at the purpose that we are here for, at what we can do when we glorify you. Get us out of self and move us more and more to the service of others, and you Lord. Amen.