As written by Kyle Idleman "This is the official talk that takes place at some point in a romantic relationship to determine the level of commitment. You want to see where things stand and find out if what you have is real."
I read through not a fan by Kyle in about 7 hours. I spent the last 3 chapters tearfully sobbing as I was over and over convicted on so many levels. He reaches the innermost part of your soul in making you look into the mirror of your Christianity. He took me deeper in Matthew 7:21-23 NIV
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name,
and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will
tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
All of a sudden I was brought to the realization that this included Christians!! Notice Jesus said "MANY will say" .Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our savior, have been baptized, attend church every Sunday, tithe, study scripture, etc... But if we are not doing "the will of my Father who is in heaven" then are we really living FOR Jesus? Are we really a follower?
Now return to the opening quote. Is not our relationship with Christ a romantic one? By far the most romantic of all times!! We should be passionately pursuing him daily, hourly. We should be willing to walk away from everything and everyone to follow him. Consider all the men that Christ asked to follow him and they wanted to do something else before they did (Matt 8:18-22). He turned them away. The disciples that were under Jesus were men who left "at once" (matt 4:20), "immediately" (matt 4:22) This, my friends, is how we should follow him.
Many church's today are more concerned with filling pews and increasing tithes than they are about changing lives and reaching the needy. They speak of welcoming the sinners for whom Christ came for (matt 9:13b), but fail to tell you how difficult, selfless, tiresome and painful it can be to carry that cross everyday. So folks go home after an uplifting service to their big fancy homes or meet others of thier kind for a lavious lunch not truly understanding what it means to sacrifice. We all do this. I'm not above it either.
I can't thank Kyle enough for writing this book. For speaking out on a topic of Christianity that has been brushed under the rug for so long. I can't imagine a true Christian reading this, being challenged by it and then putting it down and moving on with life status quo. It stirs a fire within you to be better, to carry your cross daily, to live out a life doing what Christ did for us. God sacrificed his only son so that we can share in the heavenly riches and be one in his family. Imagine if each family chose to live in a home of modest existence,one that med their needs not their greeds, and matched their titheing to their mortgage. Imagine how many lives could be changed.
Matt 10:38-39 speaks to how we should start each day and end each night: ...and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
So I challenge you to carry your cross daily, repent daily and then give your yoke to Jesus daily. When he stirs within you the desire to go out and do something, DO IT! Remember, God prepares us and then calls us. Eph 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
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