Have you ever felt uncomfortable when it comes to trying to follow your faith? What if I told you that Jesus expects us and even compels us to be uncomfortable? Take a look at Matthew 19:16-30.
Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother. Also, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “I have kept all these; what do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my name’s sake will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
This rich man was asking Jesus how he could be saved; he was asking the Messiah how he could receive the blessing! Wouldn’t you want a blessing? I know I do!
Jesus told this man to follow his commands. But the guy goes, “Yeah, I already did that; what else you got?” He was so dismissive!
Jesus said to give up all your wealth and follow me! But, ah! Dang Jesus. See, I can’t do that. Because I have this nice house, this nice job, people who don’t try to push me to do better, my friends are yes men. Jesus, that would make me UNCOMFORTABLE. I’m too scared to give up what I KNOW to follow the Messiah. I’m too scared to PUT IN THE WORK…
You see, Jesus calls us to be disciples. But what does that mean? Matthew 28:18-20 tells us exactly that.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore 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 that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
This section is often referred to as The Great Commission. A “commission” is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as “an instruction, command, or duty given to a person or group of people.” Jesus is commanding his followers to make more followers by teaching others about him. The Good News, the Gospel! This concept could be UNCOMFORTABLE to some because he is going to put us into situations where we may have to share our faith. But how can we teach others about Jesus if we don’t know what the Bible says in the first place?
Reading the Word can be uncomfortable because we may perceive it as boring, scary, or a variety of other excuses. But how do you expect to share the HOPE of the Gospel if you don’t know what it actually says?!
We are to wrestle with His Word because it challenges us. It guides us. If you don’t, you are playing right into the Enemy’s hands through ignorance. You will end up believing anything you hear about the Word and be led astray because you don’t like feeling UNCOMFORTABLE.
So, stop holding yourself back! Get UNCOMFORTABLE in your walk!
-Pastor Alex