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As long as I can remember, I've always been the star of the football team -- from 3rd grade, all the way up until my first two years in college. For the majority of my life, I played quarterback, the main position on the team. I led my team to a championship almost every year since I first picked up a football. I even signed my first autograph at the age of 15. However, towards the end of high school, I couldn't help but think about the pressure that would come from playing quarterback in college and, honestly, I wanted no parts of it.
My senior year I decided to change my position to wide receiver and, for the first time in my life, I was not the center of attention but simply a supporting cast. During the season, I kept a great attitude but on the inside, I hated it so much. Nothing revolved around me anymore. It was almost as if I didn't really exist on the team. I started every game, but it was like I wasn't even playing.
During the award ceremony after winning the State Championship my senior year, the athletic director handed out trophies to certain players, and I received the Sportsmanship Award. In a room filled with hundreds of people, he said that in the past I had been the superstar, but after I transferred to a new school, I took a lesser role and not once did I complain about it. And that was why I was awarded the Sportsmanship Award. I walked up, got the trophy, smiled for the cameras, and as soon as I got home, threw it in the garbage-can outside my house.
I think anyone can agree that it was very selfish of me to behave in that manner. It's obvious that I didn't care much about the team, I just cared about myself. The interesting thing about Christianity is that we do the same thing with God. We claim to have given our lives to Him, but we aren't interested in doing anything that doesn't draw attention or recognition to ourselves. Even with our service to God, we only do things that are convenient or don't put too much stress on ourselves.
"6 I am surprised and astonished that you are so quickly turning renegade and deserting Him Who invited and called you by the grace (unmerited favor) of Christ (the Messiah) [and that you are transferring your allegiance] to a different [even an opposition] gospel. 7 Not that there is [or could be] any other [genuine Gospel], but there are [obviously] some who are troubling and disturbing and bewildering you [with a different kind of teaching which they offer as a gospel] and want to pervert and distort the Gospel of Christ (the Messiah) [into something which it absolutely is not]. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to and different from that which we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)! " - Galatians 1:6-8 AMPC
We have tried to reduce God to fit inside of our own plans and goals. We say things like, "Well, you can serve God wherever or however you want." With these type of statements, we are actually proving that Jesus isn't the Lord of our lives.
"20 I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me." - Galatians 2:20 AMPC
Imagine if we were in the army and told our commander how we wanted to serve. Imagine the backlash, and even perhaps the backhand, we would receive. There is no difference when it comes to our rank under God's command. We are simply servants following instructions -- no opinions or suggestions.
"9 Is he grateful and does he praise the servant because he did what he was ordered to do? 10 Even so on your part, when you have done everything that was assigned and commanded you, say, We are unworthy servants [possessing no merit, for we have not gone beyond our obligation]; we have [merely] done what was our duty to do." - Luke 17:9-10 AMPC
God had a specific plan for Jesus when He was sent to earth. God also had a specific plan for Peter. So why would He have specific plans for the people in the Bible, but leave it up to us to decided how we would like to serve Him?
"18 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, when you were young you girded yourself [put on your own belt or girdle] and you walked about wherever you pleased to go. But when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will put a girdle around you and carry you where you do not wish to go. 19 He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. And after this, He said to him, Follow Me!" - John 21:18-19 AMPC
We are only fooling ourselves. God isn't fooled by our lukewarm devotion to Him. Jesus showed us first hand what it looks like to deny yourself and your own preferences.
"42 Saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done. 43 And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him in spirit." - Luke 22:42-43 AMPC
When Jesus is talking to Peter, He is explaining to him that in the future, he will be taken to a place that he doesn't want to go. Isn't it odd that in the Bible, to follow Jesus you had to set aside what was most comfortable to you, but today, we think that God is okay with us serving Him in a way that allows us to keep what's most comfortable? Jesus preached undivided loyalty and commitment because he knew that if we really chose to follow after him it would lead us away from the things we cherish the most. This is what it means to truly accept Christ to no longer conform to our old lives and patterns but to be transformed through our relationship with him.
"24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]. 25 For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting]." - Matthew 16:24-25 AMPC
When we look at the disciples in the Bible, they are all choosing the uncomfortable, hard path because of their commitment and devotion to Jesus Christ. Could this perhaps be the reason why so many of us today still feel as though we aren't doing enough? Do we feel guilty because we are actually not servants of Christ but rather servants of ourselves portraying devout servitude to Christ?
"38 The field is the world, and the good seed means the children of the kingdom; the darnel is the children of the evil one, 39 And the enemy who sowed it is the devil. The harvest is the close and consummation of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the darnel (weeds resembling wheat) is gathered and burned with fire, so it will be at the close of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all causes of offense [persons by whom others are drawn into error or sin] and all who do iniquity and act wickedly," - Matthew 13:38-41 AMPC
If the Scripture says that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ but we still feel guilty, then perhaps it's because we haven't truly committed to serving Christ but only the serving of ourselves. We must let go of our desires and see what God desires for us this is what it means to be in Christ. To fully surrender ourselves to truly find a new life through Jesus Christ.
"8 Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit." - Romans 8:1 AMPC
Much similar to me in high school, if most of us aren't the center of attention, we find ourselves not wanting to be involved at all. Could this perhaps be the reason that God says that in those days many will claim to have done things for Him and He will say depart from Him He never knew them? Imagine if my coach found out how I truly felt he would dismiss anything I ever done because it was only to bring glory to myself.
"21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]" - Matthew 7:21-23 AMPC
It's obvious in the Scripture that the people God is referring to are using His name to accomplish many things, but God Himself says that He never knew them. We have become so accustomed to living for ourselves that we continue doing so even after claiming Christ , attempting to drag God along with our own selfish, ambitious plans and pursuits only for him to dismiss us and the things we thought we accomplished in the end.
Question of the Day: Have you chosen to serve God in a way that's comfortable and convenient for you?
Attached below is an interview of a Pastor describing how God felt about his self service to God.