The Comfort Zone is Called Comfortable for a Reason AKA the View is Always the Same

My Sunday School Teacher Eddie seems to be able to get me involved in all sorts of My Church the Road’s ministries. I’d like to think it’s because he is also a salesman. But I can’t blame it on that. He doesn't do the “hard sale,” and he doesn't guilt me into it. Both of those things would work. Shh, don’t tell him. No, he just asks and leaves it up to the Holy Spirit for the nudge. And the Holy Spirit is not dependent solely on My Sunday School Teacher Eddie either. He feels free to push me into areas I wouldn't normally frequent frequently.

These nudges from the Holy Spirit always get me out of my comfort zone.

Why can’t God just put me in a place that is easy and I can coast through?

Short answer: 

Because the Christian life is not comfortable.

Long answer:

1.    You Christian pursue righteousness, Godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold to eternal life to which you are called and about which you are to make a good testimony. 1 Tim. 6:12 (Pursue. Fight. Take hold. Does that sound like we can coast through life?)

2.       Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us…We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up. (You must endure. You must run. You must never give up. Do these sound like easy activities?)

3.       I press to reach the end of the race…I run straight toward the goal…Philippians 3:14 (Press forward and run. Does that sound comfortable?)

4.       Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and hoist up and carry his cross daily like I will do for you and follow Me.” From Luke 9:23 (My words but look it up. This is what He was telling His disciples. The disciples knew that the Roman cross meant unspeakable pain, humiliation, and suffering. They didn’t understand yet the meaning of what He was telling them but they would understand fully later. Does this sound like something the lazy girl would sign up for?)

Now this is still part of the long answer:

Why would anyone choose this lifestyle?

1.       Hold firmly to the Word of Life; then on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. Philippians 2:16

2.       I press to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

3.       But I run to win the race which Jesus Christ has already won for me. Philippians 3:12

Sounds like the effort will be worth the prize.

So I will step out of my comfort zone and:

pursue, fight, hold tightly to, run, press forward, hoist up, 

and carry the uncomfortable things in following Christ.

 I will live on the edge.

 I will step out into the unknown for Christ’s sake.

It will be scary but the view will be great!

(Remind me that I said this the next time My Sunday School Teacher Eddie asks me to do something.)