Comfortable Christianity

“A Ship in a harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are for.”

A message from our convener.

Story Story

It was sunny last Friday, and I was walking back from the cafeteria to my friend's car. As I looked at my destination, the Holy Spirit whispered, "Did you pray like this when you were in Nigeria?"

I was taken aback. What did the Holy Spirit mean by that? I sat in the car for a few minutes, thinking about it. It made me reflect on when I first came to the US. Goodness, everything was a wow moment, even when I saw the potholes. It is hard to explain, but everyone who's traveled to a new place, even within their country, has experienced it. Everything feels different the first time you arrive, but as soon as you settle in, the awe fades.

Back home, we would hear a lot about how Christians would come abroad and suddenly give up their faith because they now have easier access to the things they used to pray for and how science disproves God. And so, as I heard more and more of these stories, the Holy Spirit, in His impeccable timing, started to show me Christian apologetics—men and women who defend the Bible with philosophical and scientific facts. He also started to show me scriptures that taught me that life is about living out the purpose for which He created me daily.

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ [‭AMP‬‬]

“For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].”

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These apologetics and the truths I learned from scripture further strengthened my faith. I jokingly tell my friends that if I had come to the US when I first wanted to, it would've been so much harder to keep my faith because it was all about what I could get from God and not how he could have been glorified through me as I lived out his will.

So I'm sitting in the car, and the Holy Spirit is showing me how though I didn't give up on my faith, I—quite frankly—reduced my intensity and consistency. Last night, I was hanging out with my Ghanaian brothers, and we were talking about how commonplace it was to pray for hours where now it seems like the "ease" has made our prayers comfortable or complacent. That was when I realized, Ah, God is reminding me of this again.

So what?

It was a big wake-up call to me, honestly. I read a quote that said, "it's time to get out of your comfort zones. You think JESUS was comfortable when he was taking up that CROSS for you?"

The picture in today's blog is a bench, and that's for a reason. The bench is just comfortable enough to sit on, but it forces you to sit upright. Similarly, we must not enjoy the blessing so much that we lose sight of the one who blessed us. Being more intentional will mean different things for different people because we are all in different phases of our Christian walk with God. For me, 1 John 2:6 was my charge to gird up and be more intentional in my walk with the help of the Holy Spirit.

1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬ [‭AMP‬‬]

“whoever says he lives in Christ [that is, whoever says he has accepted Him as God and Savior] ought [as a moral obligation] to walk and conduct himself just as He walked and conducted Himself.”

Prayer

I pray that as you continue your journey in Christ, He will empower you with strength, peace, and perseverance. I pray that He will kindle the fire He has placed in you so that you may shine bright to the people around you and that their lives will be transformed by the glory of God exuding from you! AMEN!

Keep in Touch!

If the Holy Spirit showed you something, please comment so we can all benefit.

God bless you. Jesus loves you!

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