Jump Start # 3650

Mark 16:15 “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’”

Our verse is commonly called, ‘The Great Commission.’ Great because of the scope of what was involved—all creation. Great because of what it offered—salvation to all mankind. These words would be challenging and in many ways, very uncomfortable to those who first spoke it.

All creation—would include the people that the apostles wouldn’t want to talk to. It would include those who they would have never talked to before. It would include those that they probably didn’t like. Across town and across the seas, those apostles would travel to cities they had never been to before. New people. New climates. New foods. New cultures. And, very different experiences. A long way from home. Doing things, such as preaching before audiences, that wasn’t easy for them. Uncomfortable is something that they would just have to deal with.

And, that is the nature of our faith, being able to adjust and do what is uncomfortable to us. The idea of denying yourself and taking up your cross are not comfortable concepts. Turning your cheek, going the extra mile, loving your enemy, forgiving those who have hurt you—none of those things are in the realm of what is common, natural and comfortable.

It seems that our times have tried to tame Christianity, water down the message and make it look pleasant, easy and comfortable. The modern church offers a salvation without change. The Bible doesn’t. The modern church is soft on doctrine and strong on feelings, acceptance and good times. And, in doing that, the image that is presented is not distinct or even different from the world. Why become a Christian when a Christian is the same as the man in the world, except for occasionally showing up at church now and then?

The cross is not comfortable. It’s heavy. It’s rough. It’ll give you splinters. It will weigh you down. It’s also bloody and a symbol of death. But, today, some have padded that ole’ rugged cross. They’ve made it look pretty and nice. It’s no longer offensive. It’s no longer uncomfortable. It’s become quite attractive.

Our uncomfortable faith. It moves us out of our comfort zone. It compels us to do things that we’d likely never do on our own. And, like those early apostles, when we move by faith, we find ourselves doing the uncomfortable, because it’s the right thing to do.

For instance:

• Serving the Lord in public worship is very hard for some. We preachers have done it so long, that we think nothing of it. But there are those whose knees shake, palms sweat, voice quivers and heart races, when asked to lead a prayer or lead the Lord’s Supper. Beyond uncomfortable, some nearly pass out in fear. Yet, somehow, they find the courage and strength and do the job. Many do amazingly great job. Uncomfortable, yet serving.

• Inviting someone to services is high on the list of things Christians find uncomfortable. Not knowing what to say, how to handle questions or worse, a rejection, so many feel ashamed and guilty because of how uncomfortable this makes them feel. There is that guy at work, but I’m just afraid to bring it up. There’s that person in the family, I need to, I ought to, but I’m so uncomfortable with that. It’s like having two left legs at the same time. But there are those that do that. That put their personal feelings and uncomfortableness behind them for the greater good of trying to show someone Jesus.

• The Bible is specific and plain about going to a person who has sinned against me. Jesus said that in the Gospels. That’s uncomfortable for most. We can tell a third party. We can tell the elders. We can call the preacher up and tell him. But going to the parties involved, too uncomfortable for us. So, most don’t.

So, how do we deal with these uncomfortable moments in our faith? What did the apostles do? They trusted the Lord and did it. They went into all the world. Their experience was more difficult than they thought it would be. Paul said of his travels that he was hungry, thirsty, homeless and poorly treated. It may have been worse than what they ever imagined. A living nightmare. Yet, they did it. They did it because the Lord was wanting them to do it. They did it because the Lord endured the cross. They did it because our journey isn’t about us, it is about the Lord. Giving up pleasures and comforts, they became uncomfortable for the Lord.

Too often when we are uncomfortable with something, we simply won’t do it. They did it. They did it because HE did it.

When was the last time you became uncomfortable for Jesus?

Roger