How comfortable are you?

In the book Crazy Love, Francis Chan talks about how most modern day christians lead comfortable lives. This meaning that if God was taken out of thier lives for a day, nothing would really change. Bills would still be paid, dinner would still be on the table, friends would still call just to chat. In America, many christians are not forced to put their faith in God on a daily basis, myself included. This is because we all strive to live comfortable lives in which we depend upon ourselves.

The other day my firend was talking about where she might want to be a YoungLife leader. At one point she said something along the lines of, "I want to go to the East side because if I stay on the West, I'll be too comfortable." Huh.. see a connection? I never really put the two together until this moment. My life is comfortable, I want that to change. In order for us to grow as christians we must be challenged. "because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Persecerance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." -James 1: 3-4. This won't happen in comfortable situations.  In his book, Chan says, "A person who is obbsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort."

Everyone has heard the phrase "Going out of your comfort zone," well Chan is saying we should do just that for God. Whether it's standing up for your faith when you're the only one who believes; downsizing your house and luxury items to give more to the Church; partaking in a mission trip to a third-world country; talking to the kid who sits alone in the cafeteria; declining an invitation to the most outragious party of the year. I could go on, but I think you understand my point. Now because I and going away to college, I will have to aquire an entirely new friend base, talk about intimidating. Those first few weeks are going to be quite uncomfortable, but I look forward to it. I know that God will be with me and guide me. I pray that I will be strong enough to continually seek opportunities that place me out of my comfort zone so that I will be forced to place my full trust in God. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." -Psalms 23:4.

So let me ask you this. How comfortable are you?