Just like there is “surface level” living where people say that they are comfortable with their routine existence and have everything under control , also “surface level” Christianity exists where individual Christians can find a pleasant comfort zone to camp in. Our Bible study group is delving into the issue of digging deeper into our relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit through a series by Pastor Frances Chan that is challenging us to examine and measure ourselves in order to stretch our comfort zones and to continue to grow into the full kingdom citizen and ambassador that we were meant to be by our Heavenly Father. Chan points out that Scripture is clear, the truth is that the Spirit of the living God is guaranteed to ask you and I to go somewhere or do something we normally wouldn’t want or choose to do. The Holy Spirit of God will mold us into the person that we were made to be. The Holy Spirit does not seek to hurt us, but He does seek to make us more Christ-like.
In John 14:6 Jesus said to the Apostle Thomas (and by extension all of us after), “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Pastor Chan states that the child of God wants to believe that they are people who desire truth, even over relationship and acceptance. But the chances are that as social beings we care about people’s opinions more than we are willing to admit. Even those who move past the superficial and the materialistic are often very concerned with their reputation. As Christians, we are called to pattern our lives after the Way described in the Bible. We are not called to fear what leaving our comfort zone and what following the way of Jesus may require of us, but that doesn’t mean those fear won’t crop up. It means refusing to let your fears keep you from pursing the truth the indwelling Holy Spirit (our Helper, our Counsellor, or Teacher and Guide through life) and whatever else God is teaching you and calling you to do.
1 Corinthians 3:11-16 “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? God is with you.
Chan asks, Are you willing to pursue the truth in your journey to know and be known by the Holy Spirit? Open up your mind and your life to the leading of the Spirit. God has promised to give us the Holy Spirit, if we repent, receive Christ and are baptized, and it comes down to whether we believe Him and act upon that promise. I encourage you to pray confidently for things that God has promised. Ultimately, you need to stake your faith in God alone. Do you trust God, believing that He is good and doing what is best? It really comes down to faith. Where does our allegiance lie? As disciples of Christ, being in relationship must be our focus. Be Spirit-led.
In Christ, Brian
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