Living On The Sidelines?

There are many Christians in our world today that are living on the sidelines of life. They have given their hearts to the Lord, asked for forgiveness and been “born again”; but it is at that point where their growth stops and complacency begins.

They are playing it safe…not venturing too far from the safe harbor of church, home and family. They have heard the Great Commission, but somehow have determined that it doesn’t apply to them. Their witness is lukewarm at best; their motto being, “No harm, No foul!” They applaud the good works of others, but seldom look for opportunities to share their faith and be counted for God in a world that is increasingly hostile.

Christ had something important to say about this in Matthew 16:24-26, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to come with me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What will it benefit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?”

In other words, playing it safe just won’t cut it for God! He is calling each of us out of our “comfort zones” and challenging us to take up our cross and live a life for Him.

Sure, there will be hardships, trials, set-backs, disappointments and calamities….but where’s the profit in playing it safe and missing out on all that God has promised those who faithfully seek His will and walk in obedience. Christ told us that He came to give us L I F E….So, what are you exchanging for the life that Christ has promised?

There is a payoff to the rest of this passage in Matthew as Christ continues in the next verse, “For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of the Father….and then He will REWARD each according to what he has done.”

How you live; what you do for Christ and His Kingdom; the willingness to lose your life in obedience to Him….all these will determine what Christ and His angels bring with them as your reward. So, take a good look at your life…do you like what you see? Are you losing your life in Christ? Have you forsaken all and taken up the cross of Christ?

There’s an old saying that applies to any contest that says, “YOU CAN’T WIN UNLESS YOU ENTER…..and that surely applies to life. You can not be all that God wants you to be; you can not accomplish all that God wants you to do; you can not live the life that God desires for you…living on the sidelines.

You’ve got to get in the game, mix it up and trust that God will make all things work out for good as you love Him and seek His face. Lose your life in Him and you’ll come out the winner… It’s a PROMISE you can believe ….and a life that’s well worth living….

Remember…YOU’VE GOT TO ENTER TO BE A WINNER…. For Jesus is coming again soon and He will be bringing the reward you have earned ….are you ready and waiting on the sidelines …or are you working for His return?

The choice is yours ….the answer is eternal!

Counting the days…watching the eastern sky,

WPQ

Thought for the Day:

For all who call on Jesus’ name
We believe this simple fact.
He’s gone to prepare for us a place,
But soon, HE’S COMING BACK!

He’s coming with His angels
To reward those He calls His own…
Then we’ll all ascend to Heaven
To worship Him around His throne.

WPQ Jan.2011