Notice Peter's situation in Acts chapter 10. Look at the circumstances that would have made him uncomfortable. The close of chapter 9 has Peter staying at the home of a tanner. We think, so what? What does it matter where he stayed? Well, here's something you may not know about a tanner in the first century. A tanner was a leather worker - they made stuff with leather. And back then, they didn't buy the leather then turn it into purses, sandals and jackets. They had it from start to finish. Think bloody, nasty, smelly, etc. The Jews didn't think much of them because of this. That's understandable because the Jews were so interested in cleanliness. Then after God had Peter staying with a tanner, he sent him to a gentile's home! That never happened. A good Jew might let a gentile stay in his house if he needed to, but never the opposite. This was a social perception issue and a religious issue - the cleanliness thing again. In a matter of two days, Peter went from uncomfortable to really uncomfortable. Why? For what? You know why. Because he was called to a higher purpose. What would have happened if Peter had refused to leave his comfort zone. What if he said no thanks and never went? How many souls did Peter impact because he chose the Lord over himself?
How comfortable are you?
Up and at 'em Christians! You are right Brother Jeremy. It is time to leave the comfort zones of our brothers and sisters and start knocking on doors of our communities! It is time to serve God not ourselves and our own personal comforts. Keep preaching it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments and enthusiasm for the Gospel. I really appreciate your attitude. In many ways my generation and the one before me has really dropped the ball and chosen to stay comfortable instead chosing to serve.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Jeremy
Sometimes it seems like The Church is beggining to look old. I don't think it is because the young people want a more liberal, fun worship, but it's because people are not being fed enough spiritual nourishment. Babies need a special kind of food to grow strong and healthy, and I believe the same falls true for Christians and their spiritual ages. We need to get out of our comfort zones and remember what we needed when we were teens, newly married, singles, middle aged or what ever season of life. Being set in our ways is not a biblical term. Old and young need to reach out to each other and help each other on their spiritual walk. Thanks for making me think.
ReplyDeleteI read one of the comments above and could not agree with it more. It is easy to sit back in our church buildings, with the people we have been worshiping with for twenty years, and rebuke the world for being sinful and not following Christ. Shame on us. We should be out IN THE WORLD (not of it)teaching them and showing them what the Bible says. As for myself,I think it is time for me to start feeling uncomfortable!
ReplyDeleteGreat comments folk! Thank you for sharing and challenging me and the other readers. Regardless of the circumstance or situation, comfortability breeds contentment and contentment leads to a failure to reach goals. This applies to the Church, to every business, to raising kids, etc.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for the comments! Blessings.
Jeremy