Growing hurts. Growing is uncomfortable and growing is painful. I just want to stay where I am, where I'm safe and where I'm comfortable. I don't want to go through the whole painful growing process - why can't I just stay where I am in my walk with God, where it's safe and comfortable? Well, I could, but you know... safe is dangerous.
If I would stay where I am in my relationship with Christ, I'd be "safe". I'd be comfortable. But the thing is, safe is not safe in your relationship with Christ. There is nothing "safe" about not growing in God. If I were to stay where I am, it would be easy for me to become content and complacent and comfortable. God calls us out of our comfort zones and into His Zone. He calls us out of "safe". Safe is where everyone is - it's where everyone wants to be. God calls us out of that and into His Zone, where you are not always safe (from yourself and being uncomfortable) but where you are free to grow in Him. His Zone is not safe. His Zone is not comfortable. It is very unsafe and probably the most "dangerous" place to be. Why? Because it's uncomfortable. Growing is painful. Following God can be dangerous (you're constantly being called out of your comfort zone), but you know what? I've said it so many times before and I'll say it again: it is so worth it.
I went to hand out food, clothing, blankets, etc. to the homeless this past weekend with my youth group and another church that walked the streets with us. It was such a humbling experience. When we got back to the church, the speaker was talking about the verse in the Bible that says that if you do something for the poor, you're doing it for Jesus (Matthew 25:40). And I remembered a man that I had smiled at as he sat on the streets, crippled and cold with nowhere to go. I didn't expect him to smile back at me - but he did. And he had the warmest smile I've ever seen. His eyes just glowed. I saw Jesus in that homeless man, and I don't think I'll ever forget that smile. It melts my heart just to think about it.It's in moments like those that I see Jesus "face to face". It's in moments like those that I realize that living life for Christ is very much worth it.Growing in Christ is the most amazing, worthwhile thing you will ever do with your life. Don't ever for a moment think that it's not.
Challenge: Safe is dangerous. Don't stay where you are; don't stay in your comfort zone. Reach out of "safe" and grow in God this week. It may be to help a friend, to reach out and make a new friend, to do something for God that He has called you to do, or just to read His Word and let His Words soak into your heart. Growing may be scary, it may be painful, it may be different, it may be hard, but is it worth it? Yes!
