Asking some very tough questions straight to the core of what my expectations were in faith, I was very challenged.
The author rattles off a chain of questions:
"What are you expecting?
Are you expecting for everyone to understand you?
Are you expecting family to completely understand you?
Are you expecting for dying to yourself to be easy?
Are you expecting for everything to turn out the way you think it should?"
And as I sit here, these are the feelings that brew in my heart and mind--that it is not easy in the slightest. What I expected after devoting my life to Christ would be that it would be smooth sailing, not an everyday challenge. What I expected after experiencing the power of Christ was that I could be the Savior for certain people in my life believing they "needed me" when in reality I was the one who needed them to see I needed saving, if not more so than those around me. What I expected was it wouldn't take every last ounce of my strength to vocalize my weakness and acknowledge how desperately I need this new life to be affirmed in my soul every single day. What I expected is that I would understand His plan for my life with every step and it would be easy to trust Him, not that I would find myself wrecked with doubt and confusion over the course of my journey thus far.
And yet, in love, Jesus was sent to this world. The fullness of God present and walking the earth sent to redeem the brokenness. And what was the response of the world? Crucify the answer meant to save us.
He gave every last piece of Himself so that we might know the love of the Father. How can we as Christians believe that we can slide by under the radar when Christ stood apart from the crowd dramatically for the sake of those around Him. We are called to stand up and proclaim the radical saving love. How can we as Christians believe it is going to be easy to break through to people with the love of Christ? Do we expect for people to know we follow Christ simply by our politeness? This world has wall after wall after wall after wall held up against the idea of an all loving Creator. It seems much of this has to do with those who follow Him, claim to bear the radical symbol of love by wearing a cross, and yet their lives don't look much different from someone who doesn't believe. How often are Christians (myself included) so quick to condemn another for their choices or beliefs without taking the time to sit down and understand their journey, reflecting the heart of patience and compassion that Jesus has shown us from the moment He was born up until this moment when He is alive and reigning.
It is going to take Christ followers with their hearts, minds, and souls flung wide open to receive the ocean of His grace to tear down the walls.
It is going to take us humbly acknowledging that in our lives we are the jars of clay meant to display the all consuming fire and treasure of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:7).
It is going to take hearts willing to venture into discomfort to bear the name of Christ in all things with patience and trust that all things done in His name are not done in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
The line between this world and the next is a very thin one, a thread meant to wake us up to the fact that we have not been guaranteed an entire lifetime to one day grow into the people God is calling us to be. Now is the time to grab hold of the fullness and groundbreaking love of Jesus so your heart will not only be radically altered, remade, and healed but that for the sake of the world He will burn in you so all may see (2 Corinthians 4:15).
To participate in the Kingdom of Christ is the most soul-filling, worthwhile endeavor you will ever be called to and with that, the most challenging. You may not feel worthy of this call and the truth is that you aren't--it is the life of Jesus within you that cancels the record of sin and clothes you in the righteousness of God, allowing you to be presented whole before the Father.
Christ is here and now, looking at you and calling you to take up your cross and follow His lead. Are you expecting it to be easy?
No, but expect it to be worth it.
