Playing it "Safe" with God

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Christine Caine, an evangelist with Hillsong Church in Australia, spoke at church this weekend.  I love when speakers come who are engaged in a global ministry.  It always opens my eyes to a bigger picture of the church and challenges me to get my vision off of my own little world.  She through out a couple of lines that, on the heels of the Passion 2012 conference, are continuing to mess me up.  Here's a few:
  • The church has mistakenly adopted the idea that following God is about reaching a place of safety ... as if we can control our lives in the first place anyway.  But we can't run from risk.
  • The truth is that Jesus didn't come to earth to make us safe.  He came to set us free so we could be dangerous to the kingdom of darkness.
  • We aren't a product of our time here, but a product of eternity.
  • Some of us live our lives as if the purpose of our lives is to arrive at death safely.  And you avoid any kind of situation where miracles can happen.  
  • Want to know your calling - We, as the church, are personally responsible for the evangelization of the planet earth before the second coming of the Lord Jesus.
  • Darkness only prevails because of the absence of light.  You were called to continue the ministry of Jesus in being light in the darkness.
Aaahhh ... such great thoughts.  If only we could live up to them.  I don't believe I've met a believer who purposes in their heart to find their place of safety and stay there.  But somehow, most of us seem to end up their over time.  This Christian life becomes all about "fixing" ourselves and "creating" this mystical place of safety.  And meanwhile, we are wasting time ... precious time.  But what happens if we embrace the mission that God has given us?  With His direction, His strength, and His resources.  What happens when we purpose in our hearts to be light in the darkness.  Sounds like the book of Acts huh?

 to be continued ...

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