I could hold on
I could hold on to who I am and never let You
Change me from the inside
And I could be safe
I could be safe here in Your arms and never leave home
Never let these walls down
But You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You will lead me Lord
~ All Sons and Daughters ~
I love this song by All Sons and Daughters. It is such a beautiful challenge to see beyond the soft cozy security of being a static Christian and to embrace a deeper, more fulfilling call.
Sadly, our Christian walk is often a reflection of our day-to-day lives. It has a nice tidy place on Sunday morning where we keep it safe, benign, and not costing us a thing.
I know I’ve often gone through the motions and enjoyed my “Martha Stewart” Christianity. It may look nice on the outside but there’s been a lack of substance. A superficiality under all of the decals and ruffles. I think we get fooled, or perhaps more accurately, convince ourselves that our Christianity should be comfortable. Or maybe an even greater folly is to believe we have “arrived” somehow. That we just need to keep the yard looking nice, but there’s no need to work on the foundations or dig up the sewer for necessary repairs.
Jesus hasn’t asked us to be safe or comfortable.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. – Matthew 16:24-25
That’s a problem some have with Jesus, and with Christianity in general. Christ has given us a free gift of grace, but He wants a relationship that requires sacrifice and obedience from us. He doesn’t want us to stop with accepting the gift of salvation and attending church when it is convenient.
Unfortunately, we often want God for what he can do for us in a no-strings-attached kind of deal. At least no strings attached for us. No relationship can flourish like that, and Jesus wants relationship. He lived a life that was all-in all the time and calls us to do the same.
My prayer for all of us today is that we step out of our comfort zones as we hear His call and embrace the abundant life God desires to give us. He is always calling us higher and deeper.
Well now, isn’t that the point? The deep part of us cries out for recognition, value, purpose. How does this ‘idea’ of significance get planted in us without having an outlet? Without there being some focus? Well now, isn’t that the point? C. S. Lewis says “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”
Outer-worldly; this doesn’t sound comfortable. “Lord, give me patience, but make it quick.” This sounds almost dangerous, threatening. And it is.He didn’t promise comfortable, He promised He’d go with us. It isn’t meant to be a walk-in-the-park.
Perhaps religion has led us to believe it is an all-at-once, kinda deal (and it can be) but more than likely it’s an all-our-lifetime kinda deal where moment by moment we’re given these gifts, these chances to change and He’s asking us because He believes we’re worth it.