ARE YOU READY TO LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE?

“Stephen replied: “Listen, brothers and fathers! “The glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran. God told him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives and go to the land I’ll show you” (Acts 7:2-3)

MAKE THIS CONFESSION CONFESSION

“I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, I spread the aroma of Christ wherever I go as I carry my cross daily”

I read of a child who was in a boarding house in a school about 80km away from where they stayed. Though the school was relatively okay and they took good care of them, yet he was always reluctantly to leave the house for school whenever he comes home for holiday.

The parents had thought over this many times to find out what causes it. They discovered that it was because the house was his COMFORT ZONE.  He found it difficult to detach from the enjoyment of the house – the movies, food, extra sleep, extra parental care etc. But the truth is, he had to leave the house for school if he wants to make progress academically; he has to leave the comfort zone.

Abraham experienced the same shift. He had to leave his comfort zone for an unfamiliar environment. This happened to him in his old age. Interestingly, he obeyed and left. This was a highest level of demonstration of Faith. That singular act of obedience earned Abraham a righteous stand with God and he became a friend of God. Today, we called him Faithful Abraham.

Are you ready to leave your comfort zone to follow Christ? The conditions for following Christ are well stated by Christ himself. In case you are not aware, let me bring them up here: “Then he said to them all, If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Three things become obvious from that verse. In other words, to follow Christ:

• You must Deny Yourself

What does it mean to deny oneself? It means you must say NO to what you want for yourself in this life. You must die to your ambitions and selfish interest. It means Christ must become your first priority in life. This is not possible unless you experience the death (crucifixion) of your old nature. Paul had this experience and so he said in Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” Have you died to yourself? Or you’re still being ruled by your sinful desires? (Galatians 5:19-21).

• You must take up your Cross

I need to quickly say here that “cross”, as mentioned here does not refer to sickness, suffering and misfortunes of life (even though we experience such in our sojourn on earth). Rather, it means you must be ready to identify with the death and resurrection of Christ everywhere you go; you’re not ashamed to make your identity known as a follower of Jesus; you’re living with eternity in view; you’re living every day like a person that has only one day to live.

Again, Paul demonstrated this when he said: “Christ is everything that I live for. And if I die, that will be even better for me” (Philippians 1:21). Are you making Christ known in your neighborhood and among your circle of friends or you’re hiding your identity as a Christian?

• You must follow Christ every day

Christian walk is a lifetime assignment; it’s not a part-time or partial commitment. Your commitment must be total and must be renewed every day. Once you signed in to follow Christ, then you must burn the bridge that connect you to your old lifestyle. The early followers of Christ demonstrated this virtue, they followed him with reckless abandonment.

Are you ready to follow Christ to the end of times? Will your lamp still keep burning when He shall come to rapture the saints? Will you be willing this today to leave your COMFORT ZONE? God bless your soul as you do.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTIONS

• Which aspect of your life are you finding difficult to submit to the Lordship of Jesus?
• How easy is it for you to identify yourself as a disciple of Christ among your friends?
• Reflect one more time on Luke 9:23 and outline the implications of the passage for your walk with Christ.