Comfortable Christianity (For Discussion)

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you." ( I Peter 4:12)

Notice that this does not say "if" fiery trials come your way, but "when." These words come from Peter who had three times denied Jesus, but then be restored in John 21 only to be told he would die a violent death for serving Christ. Jesus told us not to be surprised when persecution comes or way.

But we don't like that. We want a little dose of God and faith. We want enough of God to have a sense of security that we are going to go to heaven, but not enough faith that will bring on the fiery trials. We like our comfort. We complain if it is too hot or cold in our cushioned pews on Sunday. We worry if the worship service goes a little too long or if the preacher asks for too much money.

Maybe most of us aren't convinced of the "prosperity gospel". While some have fallen victim to that plight, most of us are more grounded in scripture. But we are far more concerned about our comfort level. We even preach that to be in the center of God's will is safe. But is it? Wasn't Daniel in the will of God when he got tossed into the lion's den? Weren't Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego in the Lord's will when they got grilled in the oven? And what about Stephen, was he safe in the will of God, or did he not die?

I believe it was Rick Warren who reminded us that God is far more interested in our character than in our comfort. Which one are you seeking? To be comfortable, or to be yielded to God's will and His purpose to transform your character? Are we teaching God's Word, or are we proclaiming a Comfort Zone message?

Love So Amazing (Devotional)

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jeuss our Lord." (Rom. 8:38-39)

How reassuring it is to know that there is nothing in the entire order of creation that can separate us from God's love. God loves us with such an amazing love that is totally based on who God is and His capacity to love and which has absolutely nothing to do with how loveable we are. We cannot earn God's love, and we certainly do not deserve God's love.

Yet God loves us with a never failing, never changing, absolutely dependable love. There is nothing we can do to make God love us any more than He already does. And there is absolutely nothing that we can do to make God love us any less. He loves us because it is His essence to love, it is His nature to love us.

In a world of constant turmoil and transition, it is reassuring to begin this new week and each new day with the absolute assurance that God's love is constant and reliable. When everyone else lets you down, and when no one else seems to care, remember, God loves you with perfect love. Nothing can change that.