Daily Light - July 26, 2011

Daily Light from the Lighthouse

"Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

Matthew 8:22

I do not know of any one that has ever claimed this to be their "life's verse". As you read the account, it almost sounds a little cruel. Why would Jesus say such a thing? Doesn't He have any compassion? Of course we know that He is compassion, and to those that are intensely following Jesus this sentence seems normal. How?

Those that are radically following Jesus Christ have come to the place that they know to live for Jesus means completely changing the way you think. There is no such thing as normal when following Him. Better yet, what is absolutely strange and weird to every one else is normal for the intensely devoted disciple of Christ. "No where to sleep? No problem." "An incredibly overwhelming storm about to capsize our boat and Jesus is asleep? That's about right!" "Stepping off the boat into a cemetery with two naked and demon-possessed men running toward us? Been there and done that!"

If you have ever had the opportunity to go on a mission's trip, especially to a third world country, you know that every one of your senses gets completely overwhelmed. The people are different, as well as the scenery, the food, the smells, the customs, etc. Usually, early on in the trip some of those who went are just ready to get back home. However, as the trip goes along, you realize that all of the things that you are experiencing are normal for every one around you, and they are fine with it. One missionary made a great statement, "If you can do this for a week, you can do it for a lifetime." Those same people that were so ready to go home when they first arrived literally weep on the day that they have to leave. Missionaries are my heroes because what is totally strange to me is their normal. They have made a radical decision to turn their lives over to Christ even as He turns their lives upside down.

Author and gifted speaker Francis Chan asked the question, "Is my life so radical for God that if it was written about in the book of Acts would people be amazed by it?" The answer for most of us is of course no. We live in the normal, but don't you ever think that God is calling you out of the normal into the supernatural? Maybe like Peter you feel the call to step out of the boat and onto the water, but the boat seems so safe. Faith knows that we will never experience the power of Christ in the places of safety and security. Live wholeheartedly for Christ, and the next time two demon-possessed men come running toward you just smile and realize that you are normal when it comes to being a disciple of Christ.

May you follow the Savior of the world today!