You know that feeling, the urge to do something great? That part of you that says I'm gonna be famous, or I'm gonna win that award, or I'm gonna travel the world! The "I'm gonna be the best ______ in the whole world!" We tell ourselves that these are a child's dreams, that they are unrealistic, that we do not or should not have these feelings because we know better. The truth is everyone has that urge somewhere inside them. Everyone wants to do something great. Everyone gets restless. Everyone wants to do something! Have you ever wondered why we all have that urge and yet very few of us actually succeed at our "great thing"? Why most people just live their life never doing anything the world considers "great"? There is an answer to that question, but first, we need to ask ourselves what measuring stick we're using. Are we using the world's or God's? The world says that fame and money is "great". But, what does God say? "He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to act justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8) Does that sound like the rich and famous to you? Now, I realize there are some who have used their fame and money for the glory of God, but those who have are few and far between! Jesus says, "... For he who is least among you all will be great." (Luke 9:48) The truth is we were made for so much more than what we as a culture, and more importantly what we as people claiming to be Christians are. We live for ourselves. We plan what we want to do and when we want to do it. We live our lives how we want to. We control or try to control every part of our lives. That sounds great, right? Wrong! Because what that really means is that we have settled for far less than what we could be. That is, what Christ could be in and through us! God is not interested in money, or fame, or awards, or scholarships, or any other accomplishments other than furthering His Kingdom! He is interested in radical abandonment to Jesus Christ! He is interested in the mother who gives up her personal wants to spend every moment teaching her children how to be more like Christ! He is interested those who live with the lost and needy to show them Christ! He is interested in the little boy who washes the bare feet of the child without shoes and tells them the Good News of Jesus! He is interested in the little girl who stands up and says "I believe in Jesus!" even if it costs her her life! He is interested in the man who is passionate about leading his family in the ways of the Lord. He is interested in the person who prays, the person who recognizes their sin and says "God, change me!" He is interested in the person who says "God, send me!", the person who says "God, use me in whatever small or great way you so desire! My only goal is to please You! I don't care what the world thinks of me! I only care what You think!" He is interested in a living sacrifice! "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen whose hearts are fully committed to Him." (2 Chronicles 16:9) You have that urge for a reason! That feeling is a call to be so much more than what we are. Right now, most of us are what Jesus calls lukewarm Christians. We go to church. We pray from time to time. We know the gospels. We're pretty decent people. However, if we were to truly dive-in to the scriptures we would find that we are far from what Jesus considers a true Christian. We would find that we are lukewarm. Jesus says, "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."(Revelation 3:16) We are call do be so much more! We don't have to stay lukewarm! With Christ living through us we as a generation, as Believers, can change nations! "Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:38) Let's take up our cross and get about following Him!
