Do You Do What You Say? Do You Practice What You Preach?

In reading The Gutter by Craig Gross, I have continually been challenged to step up and step out in my faith.

If you are a Christian, at any stage of your walk, and want to learn how to live out Christ's love, this book is a definite recommendation from me.

As many of you know, I am a go-go-go kinda person. I am a doer, not a sayer. I back up most of what I say I will do by actually doing it. And doing it above and beyond what I said.

This book challenges me still.

I SAY I am a Christian, but am I BEING a Christian?

What does it mean to BE a Christian?

As a follower of Christ, shouldn't we actually follow His actions? Shouldn't we mock his life and his love, above praying for people? Why are we so afraid to serve?

The Gutter points out that in Mark 16:15, right before the Ascension, Jesus tells his disciples to "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

So what? This is a common church verse. We don't even think of it anymore. But what the author points out is that often we lose touch with the simplicity and the meaning. We dig deeper and deeper and lose sight of this fact:

"When Jesus said 'Go', what he meant was, 'Go.' "

Uhhh. Yea. Then why do we not?

The world is scary!

And Jesus went beyond saying "Go unto all your friends" or "Go into your church"...what He said was "Go into ALL THE WORLD." That means everyone, including those you are least comfortable with.

How many of us will walk into a homeless shelter and love the people there in a Christlike manner? How many will speak to the beggar on the street? How many of us Christians will sit down for coffee with a crack addict, or worse a prostitute to show them love?

Or harder yet, how many of us can invite over an enemy for dinner and forgive them wholeheartedly? Or, can write off the sins of our parents against us for good? Or can forgive our spouse for that indiscretion? Or will return to face a pastor or a family member or a boss after being damaged by their words or actions? And then, how many of us will love them?

Why is it so hard? Why is it so scary? Because we are humans and we are weak, we are scared. But, we are Christians.

Craig Gross writes, "If you're a follower of Christ, the Spirit is in you and wants to help get God's gifts out of you and into the real world. God promised He'd give you the power. It won't always be easy out there, and you'll have your share of setbacks and frustrations, but god will always be there with you, giving you the power to keep going."

Then he goes one step further and writes, "Stop being so weak. God did not create you to be a scared, irrelevant Christian. Why can't you do this? What's holding you back if you know what God's Word says and you know what He's capable of doing? Whywhywhy?! Stop being afraid of the gutter and just go get in it. The world looks at the Church and sees a bunch of people too afraid to approach them."

I have been reminded time and time again by this book to step out of my comfort zone and do more. I challenge you to do the same...

What is one thing you can do this week to "Go into all the world and preach the good news?"