Stretch or Settle? (Mark 1-8)

In studying the life of Jesus, it's interesting to notice what people saw in Him.  The Son of God stood right in front of people and did some pretty incredible things: cast out demons, healed the sick (fevers, diseases, leprosy, paralysis, physical deformities), raised people from the dead. calmed the storm, walked on water and fed the multitudes. And if that wasn't impressive enough, he gave His 12 disciples the power and authority to do the SAME THINGS.  And yet nobody REALLY understood Who He was or why He came.

His disciples knew Him as an amazing Guy who did amazing things, and when they finally started to figure out that He was the Son of God and the promised Messiah, they began to think from an earthly perspective instead of an eternal one.  When they envisioned their Messiah, they focused on the Deliverer of Israel.  Jesus would be their ticket to power, position, and a new way of life!

The Pharisees knew Him as a troublemaker. A lawbreaker.  A blasphemer.  He was a commoner who didn't fit their preconceived notion about the Messiah, who surely would have embraced the religious establishment and shunned everyone else, ESPECIALLY Gentiles. Jesus was a threat to their power, position, and their privileged way of life.

But God knew Him as His obedient Son, Who was willing to do WHATEVER He asked.  He went to places that others didn't expect.  He did things that surprised people.  He taught people, especially His disciples, things they didn't/couldn't understand at the time because there was a bigger plan.  There was a bigger plan for His life.  There was a bigger plan for the disciples' lives. And there is a bigger plan for OUR lives.

How will God know US?  Will He know us as His obedient son or daughter, who is willing to do WHATEVER He asks?  Will we willing to go to unexpected places?  Will we let Him surprise us?  Will we be faithful in our trials and be willing to learn some hard lessons in life, even though we don't understand?  Will we trust that God is working out a bigger plan?

One of my favorite books is "Good to Great in God's Eyes" by Chip Ingram, and he writes that life-changing steps of faith always involve RISK. We're often faced with a decision that pits comfort or convenience against obedience to God's call.  If we choose the risky steps of obedience a lot of people will think we're crazy, so we risk our reputation too.  But if we're not willing to take the risky steps, there's no opportunity for our faith to grow, there is no power or joy or intimacy with God, there are no opportunities for miracles in our lives, and we ultimately displease God.  So do we settle for life on a spiritual merry-go-round that goes in circles and never really goes anywhere?  OR do we let Him stretch us and ride with the wind in our hair on a spiritual roller coaster??

I think y'all know which ride I pick ;)