THE COMFORT ZONE-PART 1

The Comfort Zone: The Armory of Satan, Part 1

            “Am I doing the right thing to glorify God?” “Am I believing the right things, going the right way, and truly on the straight and narrow?” “How can I improve my spiritual life if I am biblically commanded to be profitable?”

             Questions like these are quite common in the church, and we use these questions as a way to make sure we are doing the right things for God. However, our answer is usually the same old things we are comfortable with, like reading, praying, and going to church. As followers of Christ, we shouldn’t just remain comfortable in the faith. Faith, according to the Word, is reliant on action (James 2:14-26). Although the gifts of God like grace (John 1:16) and comfort (Matthew 11:28) are not deserved or earned (Ephesians 2:8-9), there is nothing good that arises from laziness (Proverbs 13:4). Granted, we are commanded to do the things most people are comfortable with, like to study the Word (2 Timothy 2:15), to pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and to not forsake the assembly (Hebrews 10:25). However, if we are to love as image-bearers of Christ (2 Peter 1:4), we are to follow in His footsteps of having a sacrificial love (Luke 9:23). In other words, if we only do what is comfortable, then there will be a severe lack of spiritual fruit bore, and we will be barren, hewn off and thrown into the fire (John 15:6) as unprofitable servants (Matthew 25:30).    

            The solution is simple: we must look at the Word and see an example of getting out of that “comfort zone.” After all, wasn’t Christ going out of His comfort zone to save humanity (Matthew 26:36-39)? Didn’t the young ruler have to sell all that he had, considering his worldly possessions were holding him back from being a full-fledged follower (Matthew 19:21-22)? If evangelism is hard, learn to evangelize (Matthew 28:19-20). If community-building is hard, make those connections (1 John 1:7). If giving is hard, open up that hardened heart and give to those who need it most (Matthew 25:40). No one ever said that following Christ was easy, but it is worth it to be on the winning side of this battle that has been won. We aren’t perfect, but we should try our best to be complete, not lacking in anything (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God gives us the ability to do anything that stands in our way (Romans 8:31), so let’s use His strength, not just our own, to do His will.

Caden Conley