Belief and Faith

I am reading through a book called "The Signature of Jesus." It has me incredibly fascinated by the its' very premise. The first chapter talks about true authentic faith and the difference that is between that and belief. You see, we have an issue in America and possibly around the globe where there is a strikingly high number of people that say that they "know and believe" in Jesus Christ and yet they feel "dead", their actions don't back up their words, or they have no idea what it means to follow Jesus Christ.

I believe that we must engage in radical discipleship for true authentic faith begin to grow. Giving people the opportunity and the challenge to step out of the place that they are, the comfortable place, into a place where they will experience God working is such an opportunity to engage in Authentic faith. So often, it is easy for me to sit back in my cacoon of ease and watch as the world goes by. I make excuses so that I will not have to experience uncomfortableness. God, make me someone who seeks to know where you are working. Make me a man that follows you into danger, into comfortlessness, into passionate faith and radical discipleship and let me not fall into the drones of the dead faith that people so often mention as the reason that they don't believe in Christ anymore.

As a church, can we make disciples out of people if they are not being challenged outside the walls of the "safe" church? Can we truly reach our destination of "developing fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ" if we cannot and will not allow our people to grow in ways that are dangerous, in ways that are uncomfortable. My prayer after Thailand was that my heart would be broken for my neighbors. My heart can be broken for my neighbors over and over again but if I don't do anything with that, my heart is simply a dropped glass. It doesn't bring about any life change. If I decide to do something about my heart condition, it will be uncomfortable. It will be outside of myself. It will be something that I must see God work in because I am incapable of bringing anyone to Christ in my own strength and in my own power.

Almighty God, maker of heaven and earth, direct me to be outside of myself. Make me someone who is outside of my comfort zone in all ways. Help me to respond to the heart condition that you have given me with passion, grace, and confidence.

Amen.