following Jesus isn't for cowards

Thousands of people watched the Discovery Channel Sunday night as Nik Wallenda walked across the Grand Canyon on a cable.  It was 1,400 feet.  It is 5,000 above the ground below.  It was either stupid or amazing.  But along the way as thousands or maybe millions of people watched Nik talked about His faith.

His amazing and dangerous walk above the Grand Canyon got the attention of the world as he talked about his walk with God.  That reminds me of one of our core statements at The Community Fellowship.  That is “we are to get the attention of our community and while we have their attention tell them about Jesus”. 

How awesome was that?  Some will say how stupid.  I say if God got the glory and people heard about Jesus it and anything is worth it.

Luke 9:23-26 NLT

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.  And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?

Those words appear red in my Bible because they were said by Jesus.  If we are taking our faith no so serious, then we are in trouble.  God took our sin seriously.  He was so serious that He sent Jesus to deal with it.  That does not call for casual living.  It calls for courageous living.  Are we willing to do what it takes to live by faith?  What will we do so others will meet our God?

Courage is a tough thing.  Jesus said in these verses that to “turn from your selfish ways”.  We must stop holding on to what we can’t keep and stop trying to change what we can’t change. 

My fear is that I will lose opportunities.  My fear is that I will gather and treasure things that just don’t matter.  That means I have to seek God through it all and for it.  The things we treasure on earth are not the treasures of Heaven.  My life is made to give Him glory.  My words must be His.  My actions must be His.  May God make our lives a huge benefit to God and to the people around us. 

God is preparing to do great things through us.  That’s what I really want.  Following Jesus isn’t for cowards because He might ask you to walk on a cable across the Grand Canyon.  Or He might ask you to walk across the street to talk to your neighbor.