I've often prayed that God would make me more radical in my faith. Not a Bible-thumping, greater-than-thou, fire-and-damnation-preaching kind of radical; but rather the kind that is willing to do anything the Lord asks of me. Even if I don't want to. Even if it makes me uncomfortable. Even if it hurts or inconveniences me.
I was reading in John 14 today, and I noticed a little handwritten note that I had written in the margins of the page. There was no date, no context of any sort; all it said was "radical living is possible," next to John 14:15. This verse simply says that "If you love me, you will keep my commands."
If we love Him, we will obey Him. What a simple truth, yet how hard it is for most people to grasp. Perhaps that's why those who actually do grasp it are considered "radical." We live our lives in our own little bubbles of self, family, and friends, rarely even giving those outside of the bubble a second glance. But Jesus calls us to love the unlovable, help the downtrodden, clothe the naked, and feed the hungry. The people outside of our bubble.
It's only natural that God would expect those who love Him to listen to Him. But obeying Him is far from natural. It takes a change, a miraculous transformation, to come to the point where you want to obey Him, you want to put others' needs ahead of your own. That's true love for Him. That's a radical life. So let me ask you....how radical is your life?
I was reading in John 14 today, and I noticed a little handwritten note that I had written in the margins of the page. There was no date, no context of any sort; all it said was "radical living is possible," next to John 14:15. This verse simply says that "If you love me, you will keep my commands."
If we love Him, we will obey Him. What a simple truth, yet how hard it is for most people to grasp. Perhaps that's why those who actually do grasp it are considered "radical." We live our lives in our own little bubbles of self, family, and friends, rarely even giving those outside of the bubble a second glance. But Jesus calls us to love the unlovable, help the downtrodden, clothe the naked, and feed the hungry. The people outside of our bubble.
It's only natural that God would expect those who love Him to listen to Him. But obeying Him is far from natural. It takes a change, a miraculous transformation, to come to the point where you want to obey Him, you want to put others' needs ahead of your own. That's true love for Him. That's a radical life. So let me ask you....how radical is your life?
John 14:15-21
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
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