I just finished this book called not a fan by Kyle Idleman. This book has totally blown out of the water some of my thoughts about being a follower of God. The idea that Jesus has lots of fans but few true followers. Being a fan is easy, but being a follower is way harder and demands much more than some of us are willing to give. It has really made me re-evaluate what I'm really willing to surrender and do for my Savior and my Love. How serious am I?
On this weekend focused on human love, there are all kinds of overtures people make to show love. Some of them are cards, candy, nice dinners, and romantic get-a-ways. But you don't see people selling all they have to following their love around the city or to then ends of the earth very often. Oh people love to sing about how they would run 500 miles, and 500 more, just to be the person that walks a 1000 miles to fall down at their door. :D (yes I'm a little silly blame it on me being a late gen X 'er) LOL
But not many are truly serious about it. If we were, the divorce rate probably wouldn't be so high.
Kyle tells a story about a person that comes up to him and complains about their family member being to crazy about God and talking too much about good sermons and giving too much of his hard earned money away to the church. The person asks him to tell the family member that the Bible says "everything in moderation" and it doesn't have to be all or nothing. I paraphrased a little there... but basically, what was said. Kyle as nicely as possible quotes part of Revelation 3 and tells them God asks us to go ALL IN.
- Revelation 3:14-22 - " “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. ’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches" NIV
The minute I'm thinking I'm all fly and strutting my stuff, I'm looking in the mirror the devil threw up. I really traded my gold and my white robe for wretched, pitiful, and blind.
Now this said I don't think we need to wander around thinking we are garbage and get stuck in guilt. But we have to keep things in perspective and remember that, wretched, pitiful, and blind is where we come from and if we want to be more than lukewarm.... We have to go ALL IN. We have to give up Everything to experience the full measure of His love. He gave EVERYTHING for ours! He walked more than a 1000 miles in the dust for us to knock at our hearts door!
Won't we let Him in?! Won't you let Him in?! Don't settle for lukewarm. Don't just be a fan. Lets go ALL IN! What does He promise? Jesus promises He will come in and eat with us! Personal and real, giving us gold refined by fire (riches this world cannot buy), white robes to cover us, and salve for our eyes so we can REALLY see.
Oh Great the Fathers Love For Us! How Vast Beyond All Measure! That He should give His ONLY Son. To make a wretch His Treasure!
The best Love EVER!
Not a fan...... Follower!
Praise to you God!
all my <3 ....kori
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