Not Just Faith

Many Sundays ago, in Sunday school, we were having a discussion of what hospitality requires of us. I wish I could remember which scripture we were discussing, but one of the members of the class said that she was relieved by the scripture. Obviously, from these words, Jesus didn't require us to invite people from off the street into our homes.

I said, "But he may require us to give away our homes."

Crickets. Not a popular response. It's a good thing that they like me. ;-)

One of the characteristics of a robust gospel, according to Christianity Today is that a robust gospel demands not just faith, but everything. The article says:

Paul can say that his intent in preaching the gospel is to bring about the "obedience of faith" (Rom 1:5)....A robust gospel summons each of us to respond in repentance, trust, surrender, commitment and obedience....The robust gospel calls for a robust response of a robust person.

I was listening to a sermon by Andy Stanley about prayer. He says that when Jesus teaches us to pray by saying "thy will be done," that what he is teaching us is to surrender all to God.

There are those things which we would like to hold on to. There are those things -- whether it is material objects, goals, grudges, or fears -- that we would rather God would not touch. God understands, though, that he can't have our hearts until we give them to him. And we can't give him our hearts if we hold on to those things which seem to hard to release.

It is a robust gospel that demands the obedience of faith.

Image: The sky on the way home one day.