My friend, Muffy, just published this post. It is way too good not to share. I haven't even read the first chapter of Radical yet (we start this week), but God has already been kicking my butt in these same areas. Where are our priorities? Pretty gut wrenching stuff. Thanks, M, for always challenging me to seek Jesus more. I love you!
I will join with the millions tonight watching the Superbowl mainly because our dear friends invited us to watch it with them. I am not a huge sports fan period, but the NFL particularly is not my favorite. So, I have no idea what team to pull for and really don't care all that much! But I do love a good party! I'll be hollerin' "go, buffalo chicken dip!" Or "yay for chili!" Who's playing anyway?
I never have quite understood the importance of professional sports. When I think about too hard, my brain and my heart hurts. I just don't get it. Why do we pay these athletes so much money while we struggle to pay our educators? Why? Why are we more passionate about some dudes tossing around a pigskin than we are about making sure that people around the globe have a meal tonight? Why?
Please don't think I excuse myself from these questions. I am really wrestling with the Lord right now about our choices... what our lifestyle looks like. We don't live extravagantly. Most months our budget is super tight, but we never miss a meal, and we always have a place to lay our heads. We live comfortably. But is that where the Lord wants us?
I just finished reading the book Radical by David Platt. To say it was good would be inaccurate. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to more fully understand who Jesus is and what He commands us to do as His followers. But, good? Hmmm. Good, I guess, if you like a punch in the gut.
Once my eyes have been opened to the filth that we, particularly, Americans, have made of our mission, I want to throw up. I mean, how is that it's ok with us that children around the world do not have safe drinking water? Why do I continue to purchase a $5/cup of coffee if I weren't somehow ok with this? Or that I run to Target for just about anything while children are being trafficked around the globe.
I do know that I am just as guilty as anyone for creating idols, putting things or people in the place of God. Oh, how I have failed. We, as a nation, have failed: we are more passionate, give more press to and spend our money on a sport of tossing around a pigskin than we do making much of Jesus.
I do know I can no longer just turn a blind eye. I have to do something. I am asking God, "Lord, what is it that I've told I would never do for You? How can I live differently to make Your Name great and that You get the glory?"
I am praying and seeking Jesus in a fresh way. I am stripping Jesus of anything that I have made Him and looking at Him for who the Bible says He is. Because, I either believe that Jesus is who He says He is or He's a lunatic. If I say I believe, I need to be prepared to obey what He commands me to do.
Oh dear. This is going to be painful.
