"And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, "He is out of his mind." Have you ever been told you are "out of your mind" for the sake of the gospel? Maybe God asked you to do something, and others thought you were crazy. Now it's one thing for your coworkers and acquaintances to think you're nuts... but what about when it comes to your own family or your best friend? There are things I've done in my life, because I felt the Lord ask me to do so, that people thought I was "out of my mind" and I believe there are some who don't want to call me a friend anymore because they don't want to be associated with someone that on fire for Jesus! Everyone is in a different place in their relationship with Jesus, but I believe that from the very start Jesus asks us to do bold things. Let's look at the disciples for instance. Looking back in Matthew 4, Jesus called Simon and Andrew first. They were fishermen who probably had a steady, secure, family-owned business. Jesus said, "Follow me." They couldn't take their business with them, but rather, they had to quit what they knew to be familiar, comfortable and secure to follow Jesus. James and John left their father, it says in verse 22, immediately. What does "immediately" mean? They probably didn't have much of a goodbye. They probably couldn't say, "Dad, I'll only be gone a couple months..." Maybe their father said, "James, John, you guys are out of your minds!"
Answering Jesus' call on your life, is the first step of boldness, because it requires obedience, and stepping away from life as you know it. As you continue your walk with Jesus, I believe He will continue to call you to things that are not ordinary, maybe weird to the worlds' eye, maybe even crazy to your family. God wants to do extraordinary things through ordinary people, and that requires obedience, no matter what people think of you, or what people say about you.
A few examples I have of times when Joey and I were thought of as a little "out of our minds" is when we felt Jesus tell us to get off birth control, when our plan was not to have children until we were financially prepared, and after we'd spent some time travelling. We obeyed God, and a year later we conceived. About a year ago now, the Lord pressed on our hearts to get rid of our tv. At the time, we didn't understand, especially since it was a new 50" plasma. But we got rid of it, and now we understand that the tv for us, was an idol in our lives. Although many believers would understand, I still got some smack from coworkers and friends when I quit drinking all together. People questioned why, as if I could get my addiction under control on my own. When Jesus asked me to quit completely, (and after a few times falling back) I quit. I have been sober just over 3 years. Even now, as we still don't feel peace about being on birth control, there are people, including family, who might think we're out of our minds for being willing to put our family number in the hands of God, especially living on one income. But until I have peace from God about using birth control of a sort, I will trust that He will provide the money, our needs, and my sanity for as many kids as He provides until then.
If you don't receive any opposition from anybody, I would question whether you are more concerned about what people will say, or more concerned about doing the will of God. God wants us to be light in this world, and sometimes that does mean doing things that people think are crazy. But to God be all the glory. There is always a purpose for the will of God, whether we understand it or not. If we follow Jesus, seek Him and obey all that He asks, we probably won't be popular with the world- but that's good- because we are called to not conform with the world. We are called to be different.
Matthew 5:10-12~
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
~Leanne~
Answering Jesus' call on your life, is the first step of boldness, because it requires obedience, and stepping away from life as you know it. As you continue your walk with Jesus, I believe He will continue to call you to things that are not ordinary, maybe weird to the worlds' eye, maybe even crazy to your family. God wants to do extraordinary things through ordinary people, and that requires obedience, no matter what people think of you, or what people say about you.
A few examples I have of times when Joey and I were thought of as a little "out of our minds" is when we felt Jesus tell us to get off birth control, when our plan was not to have children until we were financially prepared, and after we'd spent some time travelling. We obeyed God, and a year later we conceived. About a year ago now, the Lord pressed on our hearts to get rid of our tv. At the time, we didn't understand, especially since it was a new 50" plasma. But we got rid of it, and now we understand that the tv for us, was an idol in our lives. Although many believers would understand, I still got some smack from coworkers and friends when I quit drinking all together. People questioned why, as if I could get my addiction under control on my own. When Jesus asked me to quit completely, (and after a few times falling back) I quit. I have been sober just over 3 years. Even now, as we still don't feel peace about being on birth control, there are people, including family, who might think we're out of our minds for being willing to put our family number in the hands of God, especially living on one income. But until I have peace from God about using birth control of a sort, I will trust that He will provide the money, our needs, and my sanity for as many kids as He provides until then.
If you don't receive any opposition from anybody, I would question whether you are more concerned about what people will say, or more concerned about doing the will of God. God wants us to be light in this world, and sometimes that does mean doing things that people think are crazy. But to God be all the glory. There is always a purpose for the will of God, whether we understand it or not. If we follow Jesus, seek Him and obey all that He asks, we probably won't be popular with the world- but that's good- because we are called to not conform with the world. We are called to be different.
Matthew 5:10-12~
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
~Leanne~
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