Maybe you’ve read a story of someone who leaves everything behind to obey God’s calling and thought to yourself, “That’s awesome, good for them. But there is no way that God would ask me to do something like that...or even if he did, I would never do it.”

Maybe you’re thinking, “There is no way that God could be asking me to do ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿. I’m not qualified enough, or strong enough, or wise enough, or equipped enough.”  

God can, and will, use you anyway, if you let him. 

Going back to the lives of the disciples: These guys were truly just a bunch of ordinary men. They were fallible humans, and they had a lot of the same fears, questions, and imperfections that we have today:

Simon Peter was impulsive.

Philip had a questioning attitude.

Thomas had serious doubts.

Matthew worked in one of the most dishonest professions at the time.

Judas was...well, Judas.

The disciples questioned him, left him alone when he needed them the most, and even betrayed him.

Yet, these ordinary men became extraordinary through Christ and the call he placed on their lives. They surrendered to the sacrifice he asked them to make, and despite their flaws and their hesitancies during his life lifetime, their lives were transformed by God’s power.

Matthew 28:10, 16-20 (NIV) | emphasis mine

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”  

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

After Jesus was resurrected, he wanted to see his “brothers”–the disciples. He asked them to join him in Galilee, and it was there that he gave the Great Commission. Notice in verse 17 that it says “some doubted.”  They had just watched Jesus die, and while he was standing in front of them, fully alive, they still doubted him. Jesus loved them and called them despite their flaws and their fallibility and their lack of faith. And get this: the disciples went on to live for Jesus in a powerful way. But, as we already know, their lives involved a fair share of sacrifice.

So now let’s talk about you. Which areas of your life could God be asking you to sacrifice? Here are a few possible ideas:

• In your marriage and family.

  What selfish tendencies do you need to give up in order to have a stronger, more fulfilling marriage and family life?

• With your job.

  Are you doing the bare minimum and then complaining that your job is miserable and unfulfilling? Try giving your best effort to your job. Try finding ministry opportunities at your job. Try finding things that give you a sense of purpose and passion for your job, and see how your mindset changes.

• With your time and money.

  Do you hoard your time and money? God might be asking you to give some of that up; to be generous with your resources and your schedule.

• In your relationships.

  Do you often catch yourself thinking about what your friends and community can do for you? Try flipping the script to see what you can do for them, and see how your heart grows about 10 sizes larger.

• In your relationship with Christ.

  What might he be asking you to give up in order to have deeper intimacy with him?

Let’s go even further: Is there something big that you know God has called you to do? Maybe you’ve known about it for a while, but it feels like too much of a sacrifice. Maybe you’ve been reading the blogs this week and this “thing” has been running like a record on repeat in your mind.

What if you’re reading this today because God actually wants you to do that “thing”?

In John 12:26, Jesus said, “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant will also be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”  Jesus honors those who sacrifice themselves in order to serve him.

Increased intimacy with Christ typically equates to increased opportunities for obedience.

Watch out for opportunities to obey and to sacrifice. If it seems counter-cultural and upside-down, there’s a good chance that means it is God. Pay attention to how these situations grow your faith and mature you as a person. You may even catch yourself becoming eager for sacrificial opportunities. 

Are you ready?

Over the next few weeks, you can find reflections here at vineyardrichmond.com. Use them to prompt yourself to focus on your faith in a fresh way. Each week we will consider a different theme as we build up to the resurrection event. On Mondays, we will draw your attention to a biblical focus on a character in the gospel accounts. On Wednesdays, we will reflect personally on how that theme affects our spiritual lives. On Fridays, we will focus outwardly as we consider how God is inviting us to engage the world around us for his kingdom. If what you are learning is meaningful to you, click one of the share buttons at the top of these posts to share it with your friends. Let this be a time of personal reflection and careful examination of our own hearts and minds.