Radical
.We've started reading the book "Radical" by David Platt.
Parenthood has thrown us into a bit of a rut in our walk with the Lord. This is a wonderful book about what it looks like to surrender to Jesus. What it looks like to really live radically for the Lord.
I opened the book to chapter one and started to read. This quote pretty much sums up the gist of the story: "If Jesus is who he said he is, and if his promises are as rewarding as the Bible claims they are, then we may discover that satisfaction in our lives and success in the church are not found in what our culture deems most important, but in radical abandonment to Jesus."
He talks about how we've become comfortable with a nice, middle-class American Jesus who doesnt mind materialism and would never call us to give away what we have. However, this isn't the Jesus in the bible. He talks about the cost of nondiscipleship... and says "we would have to agree that the cost of discipleship is great. But I wonder if the cost of nondiscipleship is even greater." How the price for those who don't know Christ and live in a world where Christians shrink back from their faith... is much higher. And I'd have to agree. He starts talking about those who have never heart the gospel because of our disobedience. About a church who spent $23 million on their sanctuary, but only sent $5,000 to aid the Sudanese who were dying of malnutrition. He says "the cost of nondiscipleship is great. The cost of believers not taking Jesus seriously is vast for those who don't know Christ and devastating for those who are starving and suffering around the world." He goes on to talk about what it looks like to risk it all for the Kingdom - and that while we feel like we're giving away everything we have, how we are actually gaining an incredible reward from the Creator.
"in the end you are not really giving away anything at all. Instead you are gaining. Yes, you are abandoning everything you have, but you are also gaining more than you could have in any other way. So with joy - you sell it all, you abandon it all. Why? Because you have found something worth losing everything else for."
Platt then poses a great question at the end. "Is he worth it?" Do we really believe He is worth abandoning everything for? "Do you and I believe him enough to obey him and follow him wherever he leads, even when the crowds in our culture - and maybe our churches - turn the other way?"
I found this statement to be so completely convicting - and challenging!! Is He worth it? The answer: YES! Absolutely.
"in the end we will determine not to waste our lives on anything but uncompromising, unconditional abandonment to a gracious, loving Savior who invites us to take a radical risk and promises us a radical reward." - Platt
Parenthood has thrown us into a bit of a rut in our walk with the Lord. This is a wonderful book about what it looks like to surrender to Jesus. What it looks like to really live radically for the Lord.
I opened the book to chapter one and started to read. This quote pretty much sums up the gist of the story: "If Jesus is who he said he is, and if his promises are as rewarding as the Bible claims they are, then we may discover that satisfaction in our lives and success in the church are not found in what our culture deems most important, but in radical abandonment to Jesus."
He talks about how we've become comfortable with a nice, middle-class American Jesus who doesnt mind materialism and would never call us to give away what we have. However, this isn't the Jesus in the bible. He talks about the cost of nondiscipleship... and says "we would have to agree that the cost of discipleship is great. But I wonder if the cost of nondiscipleship is even greater." How the price for those who don't know Christ and live in a world where Christians shrink back from their faith... is much higher. And I'd have to agree. He starts talking about those who have never heart the gospel because of our disobedience. About a church who spent $23 million on their sanctuary, but only sent $5,000 to aid the Sudanese who were dying of malnutrition. He says "the cost of nondiscipleship is great. The cost of believers not taking Jesus seriously is vast for those who don't know Christ and devastating for those who are starving and suffering around the world." He goes on to talk about what it looks like to risk it all for the Kingdom - and that while we feel like we're giving away everything we have, how we are actually gaining an incredible reward from the Creator.
"in the end you are not really giving away anything at all. Instead you are gaining. Yes, you are abandoning everything you have, but you are also gaining more than you could have in any other way. So with joy - you sell it all, you abandon it all. Why? Because you have found something worth losing everything else for."
Platt then poses a great question at the end. "Is he worth it?" Do we really believe He is worth abandoning everything for? "Do you and I believe him enough to obey him and follow him wherever he leads, even when the crowds in our culture - and maybe our churches - turn the other way?"
I found this statement to be so completely convicting - and challenging!! Is He worth it? The answer: YES! Absolutely.
"in the end we will determine not to waste our lives on anything but uncompromising, unconditional abandonment to a gracious, loving Savior who invites us to take a radical risk and promises us a radical reward." - Platt
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