Getting Comfortable?

Greyhounds are nesting dogs, so I’ve been told.
And I can see why.

Ruby occasionally gets up and stands on her bed.

Then she turns around

                                   and around

                                                    and around.

She uses her paws to fluff the bed

                                   She fluffs

                                                    and fluffs.

Finally she lies down and snuggles in.

She gets all comfy and sighs with this super-contented look on her face.

Are we like that?

Are we nesting Christians?

We go to church on Sunday mornings and circle around, saying hi to folks – usually the same folks, week after week.
Then we come to OUR pews and snuggle right in, all comfy.
We sit by the same people week after week.
We don’t need to walk around and reach out to people we don’t know.

Do we want to be challenged or do we want to surround ourselves with fluff?

After all, we’re content where we are.

During the week, we visit with our friends, our Christian friends.
We gather around a cup of coffee and our conversations are comfortable.

We don’t associate with those who don’t believe what we do.

And certainly not with non-Christians.

We avoid those who might challenge our faith or,

heaven forbid,

ask us to talk about what we believe.

Comfortable.

Settled.

Is that what Jesus had in mind for us?

I think not.

As you read through the gospels, over and over, He said, “Go!”

Be a light to everyone you meet – not just the ones who make you feel comfortable.

Be salt to the world – a seasoning that makes others want to taste what you have.

Go into all the world – don’t settle in the Christian community where you feel safe.

This doesn’t sound very “nesting” does it?

It doesn’t allow us to settle.

It doesn’t permit us to stay where we’re comfortable.

It commands us to step out into a world that’s decidedly unsettling,

to live in a way that’s challenging and uncomfortable.

In other words, it’s time to leave the nest and shine!