72 Degrees seems to be the perfect temperature for me. It is where I find myself most comfortable. In the summer I need Air Conditioning to cool me down to 72 degrees. In the winter I need the heater to heat me up to 72. This is my temperature and I will do almost anything within my capability to be comfortable at 72 degrees.
I bet you have a temperature, or maybe a place. You most likely have a way of your life that makes you feel most comfortable. Some people have a special chair or a room in their house. Some people are most comfortable at the beach, a campground, or snowcapped mountains. Maybe you are only comfortable when you can visit the outside through a window or experience the inside with all the doors and windows open. No matter what we all like to be comfortable.
I've been saying for a long time in life that Jesus doesn't require us to be comfortable. And while there are portions of that sentiment that is true, in reality comfort is not all that bad. We have made Christianity and the call to Jesus something to be dreaded or to be extreme suffering. The stories of Jesus through the gospels point to a leader who speaks of his imminent suffering and death. He even speaks to his followers and shares that they will likely suffer as well.
However, I truly believe that Jesus died on the cross for our longing comfort in the arms of God. We aren't called to get caught up in the idols of the world (TV, Internet, wealth, health, etc). But we are not called to grimace and gripe and grump our way through a life with Jesus. We are called to be excited, joyous, peaceful, life-giving because of the life that has been given to us.
While my comfortable and perfect temperature is 72 degrees, I experience a spiritual 72 degrees by journeying through life following the Savior, Jesus, and that is where I want to live...72 degrees with God!
I bet you have a temperature, or maybe a place. You most likely have a way of your life that makes you feel most comfortable. Some people have a special chair or a room in their house. Some people are most comfortable at the beach, a campground, or snowcapped mountains. Maybe you are only comfortable when you can visit the outside through a window or experience the inside with all the doors and windows open. No matter what we all like to be comfortable.
I've been saying for a long time in life that Jesus doesn't require us to be comfortable. And while there are portions of that sentiment that is true, in reality comfort is not all that bad. We have made Christianity and the call to Jesus something to be dreaded or to be extreme suffering. The stories of Jesus through the gospels point to a leader who speaks of his imminent suffering and death. He even speaks to his followers and shares that they will likely suffer as well.
However, I truly believe that Jesus died on the cross for our longing comfort in the arms of God. We aren't called to get caught up in the idols of the world (TV, Internet, wealth, health, etc). But we are not called to grimace and gripe and grump our way through a life with Jesus. We are called to be excited, joyous, peaceful, life-giving because of the life that has been given to us.
While my comfortable and perfect temperature is 72 degrees, I experience a spiritual 72 degrees by journeying through life following the Savior, Jesus, and that is where I want to live...72 degrees with God!
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