I Don't Want This

As I sat in the service tonight, I listened to the speaker.  As he spoke about sharing the gospel, he included not understanding why Christians suffered more than unbelievers.  He discussed how he wasn't sure if we were invaded and threatened with death if he would stand strong. He shared how he lived his life praying that God would give him the opportunity to share the gospel without offending someone.

As I listened to him speak, I realized that I don't want to live my life in that way - Just going through life like everyone else and every now and then telling someone about Jesus.  I don't want to live my life without suffering for Christ (not that I enjoy suffering).  I don't want to have a life so full of NORMAL and satisfaction.  I don't want to be satisfied with the American norm.

I want to live my life in such a way that if Christianity were outlawed, my house would be the first on their list.  My Savior did not live the life of comfort that I now live.  He did not live to make friends.  He lived to make disciples.  How can I desire to live a life better than my Savior's?

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
John 15:9-21