Get Off The Fence!!!

Our nation is full of people who want to live out a "Practical Faith." In other words, they want something that can bring them comfort, that will not ask too much of them, and fits nicely into their lifestyle. The problem with that type of mindset is that I have yet to find anything practical when it comes to following Jesus.

The dictionary definition of the word "practical" is:
- Of or concerned with the actual doing or use of something.
- (of an idea, plan, or method) Likely to succeed or be effective in real circumstances; feasible.
With that being said, let's talk about being practical. If you are looking for a belief system that is concerned with the actual doing of something or the actual use of something then you can get caught up in a religious lifestyle. That means your faith is totally focused in what you do (works) and what you can get out of it (blessing). Not only that but much of what we are called to do as followers of Christ doesn't seem to be likely to succeed or to be effective in "real" circumstances. There is so much about faith in God that doesn't seem feasible because it requires such an abandonment and an emptying of ourselves that logic will always war with the spirit.

Romans 8:7 teaches us that the carnal mind is at enmity with God. That means that the mind that is set on the flesh (set on being practical) actually wars with God's purposes. If you don't believe me then read Matthew 5-7. Read the Sermon on the Mount and tell me that is sounds practical. I was actually sharing some of that with my son the other day and he had a lot of questions. In his mind some of the standards that Jesus put out there just didn't make a lot of sense. I told him that was the point. A life that is completely focused upon the kingdom of God doesn't make sense. It is a spiritual life that is based upon the work of the Holy Spirit in and through us. What we know is that this type of life is available when we learn to cooperate with the Holy Spirit.

Rarely has the world seen what God can do through a person that is completely abandoned to God. Instead we have witnessed a faith that simply lines up with where we already live and manifests itself in what we already do. It's a pseudo-faith that makes perfect sense to a people who simply want a better existence in what they are already doing. We like the idea of forgiveness and we love the idea of heaven but we don't necessarily like the idea of God having complete access to our lives. The fact is that we were created in the image of God to establish His kingdom - not ours. Jesus came and destroyed the works of the enemy and ask us to do the same. There is nothing practical about this. At least...not until you start living with the mind of Christ. Once you begin to transform your thinking into His thinking then you will be able to make some sense of it all.

Here's the deal - it's time for those who say they follow Christ to get off the fence and get all in when it comes to their faith. This doesn't mean that we will not own a home or that God doesn't want to bless our lives. It just means that we will allow the Kingdom of God to become our focus thus allowing our needs to become God's [Read Matthew 6:33]. It means to rise up and walk in all that God has created you to be. In this way you demonstrate to the world the reality of who God is and what He is willing to establish in all of our lives.

Get ready for ABUNDANT LIVING!!!