sometimes in the still small moments of church, God says hard things
Today during communion, one of our pastors was sharing on how God went to the ultimate extreme to prove His love to us: sacrificing His own child.
I was meditating on this, and the beginning of Romans 8:32 began running through my mind . . .He that spared not His own son . . .
And then I realized. I.AM.ALSO.HIS.SON. (Ok, daughter.)
If He did not spare His first son's life---the "bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh" so to speak, then He will not spare those of us adopted in either.
And another verse came to mind. "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." (John 12:24 KJVb)
Jesus' death was exactly that. His life sacrificed was a death meant to bring in a great, unfathomable harvest.
In the same way, our lives sacrificed for others will bring forth much fruit.
Sometimes when life has been hard, and then becomes easy after years of striving, it's tempting to think that everything is finally as it is supposed to be. I think THAT is a very American gospel.
The truth is we are called to follow the example of our big brother Jesus. He was the corn of wheat that died. We too must die if we want to bear fruit, and if we want our lives to count beyond our own simple comforts.
I don't think we have to seek out ways to die, but I do think we have to open our eyes. What if "death" comes by a friend needing us at the worst possible time? What if death looks like saying yes to serving in an area we have no passion, but where the need is great? What if death is giving our last $5 to the homeless person begging who needs a meal worse than us? What if it means allowing Jesus to move our boundaries, our precious boundaries.
I think sometimes we fail, not because what is being asked of us by the Father is so hard, but because it's so inconvenient.