Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. (Philippians 4:11-12, ESV)
You have probably heard the saying, “Get comfortable being uncomfortable.” Coaches say this when a golfer is playing better than they typically do and it is making them nervous. Or they may not be playing well and feel uncomfortable for that reason; then we want them to stick to their routine, a built-in comfort of sorts, to right the ship and fight to be mentally present with each shot.
In golf there seemed to be no one better at this than Tiger Woods in his prime. He had the uncanny ability to step on the gas to separate himself from the field, pull off the ridiculous shot, or make the miraculous chip or putt. The bigger the stage, the more he reveled in it.
Following God does not equate to a life of comfort, but remember, he is the Great Comforter.Getting comfortable while being uncomfortable on the golf course is one thing, but it touches another level in day-to-day life. Our innate sin nature wants to stay comfortable, and following Christ is not a road of comfort.
In For the Love of God, theologian D.A. Carson wrote this:
We drift towards compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated.
It is one thing to say something and another to actually live it out. It is only by God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able. If Jesus’ apostles wanted a comfortable life after he resurrected and ascended into heaven, then proclaiming his message and living for him was not the best option. Eleven of the twelve died a martyr’s death, and John, the one who did not, was exiled to Patmos. If that did not hit you the first time, perhaps re-read that last line.
The author of today’s verses, Paul, also knew the costly-but-worth-it path of living for Christ. Five times he received 40 lashes from the Jews minus one, three times beaten with rods, once stoned, three times shipwrecked and spent a night and a day in the open sea. I heard a pastor once say, “How many of us after being shipwrecked twice would be thinking maybe I’m not supposed to go on this mission?”
Granted, few of today’s readers are living in a circumstance where being a follower of Christ will cost them their life. But thinking again of Carson’s words above, perhaps we see lesser demands and meet them with lower expectations. Instead I have to ask myself, “What is God calling me to today that I am unwilling to do because I am comfortable?”
Following God does not equate to a life of comfort, but remember, he is the Great Comforter. There isn’t a storm he can’t calm with a word, or a situation that he can’t bring you through or deliver you from.
Settle in and get uncomfortably comfortable, brother and sister in Christ. This earth is our temporary home and God’s Word promises that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). May we be like Paul and learn to be content in any circumstance, with or without earthly comforts.
—
Aimee Neff
July 19, 2018
Copyright 2018 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.