We all have a comfort zone. A quirky reality show about a family that makes duck calls recently showed two husbands taking their wives hunting. After a tortuous beginning, the men abandoned their miserable, mud-streaked wives in the blind, leaving them to find their way back to the truck alone.
One of the women complained, “This is why I don’t let my husband take me out of my comfort zone. Because it’s uncomfortable!”
Of course, the comment was meant to get a laugh, but it’s true for most of us in the church as well. Our pews are soft. Our Sunday school classrooms are cool in summer and warm in winter. Even the vestibule has comfortable seats to rest our weary feet.
Then the call comes: A team is going witnessing on Saturday...hospital visitation on Monday...delivering flowers on Tuesday... Are there any volunteers?
Immediately we find something else to do. Why? Those things are not in our comfort zone. Why should we step out of our safe little world to minister to others?
What does the Word have to say about this?
1st Point: Jesus will come again.
In Acts 1:11, Jesus’ followers had just watched him ascend into a cloud before their very eyes. Two angels appeared before them saying, “Jesus will come again in the same manner as you have seen him rise into the sky.”
How do we want Jesus to view the time he has given us upon this mortal earth? He will return to judge the righteous and the unrighteous. We must be prepared to greet him.
2nd Point: If we become lax, we will fall from grace.
In Acts 1:25, a successor was being chosen to take Judas’ place among the disciples. The verse makes it clear that Judas fell from grace because of his willful acts. He once knew the Lord, and he chose not to follow him with his full heart.
Only those who do everything the Lord commands will remain true to him. We are either hot or cold, on the fence or off, with him or against him. With God, there is no middle ground.
3rd Point: Others need us.
Acts 3:3 tells us of the lame man at the gate called Beautiful. He sees two men coming, and he calls to them for money. He does not know he is calling to Peter and John. Within moments, the lame man is walking, and leaping, and praising God.
What if Peter and John hadn’t felt like getting out of their comfort zone that day? What if they had slept in or gone to the lake? What if they’d said, “We just can’t be bothered.” The lame man would have lost out; Peter and John would have lost out; and we would have lost out.
When our comfort zone keeps us from ministering to a hurting world, then it’s time to step past our little boundaries. It’s time to reach out our hands and tell those around us, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
God does not mind sending us out of our comfort zone. When he does, our broken world wins, and we win as well. Let’s step out and be winners for Jesus.
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