Give Up What You Love

I ran across a great quote today; it went something like this, "There comes a time when you have to give up something you love in order to gain something you love more.

"When I heard this quote I immediately began thinking about the church in America. In the context of the church, giving up what we love can be a challenge. Often people love their preferences; their songs, their icons/monuments, their methods. We love our parking spot, our seat in the sanctuary, and we love the familiar. But if we love those who don't know Christ yet, then we must love our preferences less.

Let me rework the quote a bit, "There comes a time when Christians must love their preferences less and their Savior more." Or perhaps this, "There comes a time when Christians must mature and grow up and give up their preferences in order to save those who are lost."

While the "religious" folk moan and complain that their little trinkets aren't where they placed them in the church people are dying and going to hell because we don't give a rip. We'd rather attempt to keep everything the way we like it and fight over little issues than strategically reach sinners. What if churches were as passionate about Jesus as they are their traditions?

Our passion at Farmland Friends Church is to see changed lives; to lead people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We must love that mission more than we love our preferences and playing church. "There comes a time when you have to give up something you love in order to gain something you love more."

Isn't that what Jesus did for us? He gave up the glories of heaven because He loved us more. I'm sure He loved being in heaven but He loved us more, so He put aside His preferences (see Matthew 26:39) to gain something He loved more - you and me - sinners.