a drop of water

I finished Francis Chan’s book, Crazy Love (www.crazylovebook.com), encouraged and inspired.  It infused and revitalized my understanding and desire to respond to God’s love.  In the 4th chapter, Chan profiles the lukewarm Christian.  It was a healthy check to my lifestyle.   Here are a few that convicted me:

• Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict.  They desire to fit in both at church and outside of churhc; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives.
• Lukewarm people don’t realy want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin.  They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them.  Lukewarm people don’t really believe that his new life Jesus offeres is better than the old sinful one.
• Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves.  Their love of others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with.  There is little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, whose kids are better athelets than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable.  Their love is highly conditional and very seletive, and generally comes with strings attached.

Later in the 8th chapter he profiles those obsessed (to have the mind excessively preoccopied with one emotion or topic) with God.  Here are a few that convicted me:

• People who are obssesed with God are known as givers, not takers.  Obessed people genuinely think that others matter as much as they do, and they are particularly aware of those who are poor around the world (James 2:14-26)
• A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort.  Obsessed people konw that true joy doesn’t depend on circumstances or environemnet; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God (James 1:2-4)
• People who are obsessed with Jesus aren’t consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else.  Obsessed people care more about God’s kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.

Chan has filled this book with countless stories of people who have lived and are living lives evident of  God’s power and love.  The stories are humbling, amazing, challenging, and revitalizing.  He cautions and encourages the reader in the following quote to listen, obey and live Christ…

Oswald Chambers wrote, “Never make a principle out of your experience; let God be as original with other people as He is with you.”  To that I would add, “Be careful not to turn others’ lives into the model for your own.” Allow God to be as creative with you as He is with each of us.

p. 167 | Crazy Love | Francis Chan