BREAKTHROUGH COMFORT
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.
Mark 1:35 (NIV)
Jimmy Carter said I can get up at 8 am and be rested... or I can get up at 5 am and be President. I’ve often noticed people will wake up at an early hour or stay up late for hobbies, working out and sporting events. Yet, the moment you talk about sacrificing something for Jesus, we can scream on the inside, well, isn’t that legalism? Perhaps it can be, but the point remains true: we’ll sacrifice comfort or rest for something we love. There’s nothing that makes us more loved or valuable to God about radically seeking Him. However, it does make us more like Him! I think there has to be a fundamental shift in everyone's life where we stop slotting God into our schedules and decide to build around Him. We’re busy, no doubt, but so was Jesus. He had the greatest mission the world has ever seen, yet He constantly found time to break away and be with His Father. The night before the verse above takes place, Jesus was healing people and being poured out, yet He chose to wake up early to be with His Father. He had built His life around the Father, and nothing would keep Him from Him.
What have you built your life around? Is it work? Kids? Sporting events? Weekends or home projects? There’s nothing bad about those things; in fact, they are good things, but they aren’t the best things. The point remains we will make sacrifices for what we consider the best thing. I was recently at a football game and was amazed to hear what time people woke up to tailgate. The prep before and the level of commitment they had, but they didn’t do it out of obligation; it was out of delight. The sacrifice didn’t seem too large because the payoff was worth it. The turning point in my life was when I chose to say no to certain things if they interfered with my spiritual life. I had to start saying no to the lesser things to say yes to the greater things. Jesus did the same. He constantly broke away and probably disappointed a few of the disciples, His family and the crowds. I’ve never once regretted waking up early, staying up a little later, taking a risk to talk to someone about Jesus, or making church a priority, but I often regret settling for good but ultimately lesser things, like comfort.
APPLICATION: Look at your schedule and evaluate if you’re slotting Jesus in or building your life around Him.
PRAYER: Ask the Spirit to help you desire Him in new ways. Ask the Spirit to stop letting the enemy get you caught up on legalism and dream about what it means to radically seek God! Ask the Spirit to fan into flame a new commitment for God! Ask Him to replace comfort with a boldness!
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?