I remember being asked, "If you could fully understand the depths and widths of God's love for you, how would you live your life differently?" I was left speechless. I did not know how to answer that question. I don't know if it was just something I had never thought about or just something my brain could not actually fathom. While I was left silent, someone else answered with something that would stick with me for a while: "I think I would live more radically for God."
As I began to read through Acts a few days later, I was astonished by how the same subject was revealed through the lives of the apostles I was reading about. These apostles were completely DEVOTED to God and His Kingdom. They weren't just characters in a story. They were actual people who went through temptations of sin and the struggles of life, and yet they committed their lives to the teachings of the Lord, to fellowship, to their community, and to prayer.
Acts 2:46-47 says:
"46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (NIV).
Their testimonies of devotion and commitment to God was staggering to me. They didn't just do whatever it took to get by. They made living radically their way of life. I have become inspired by their choice to live that way because it is a choice. It is a conscious choice to devote every second to the worshipping of God. It is a decision to live with joy and gratitude in every moment.
It is choosing to project God's truths boldly, shouting them from the rooftops.
It is choosing to not decrease your faith to make other's more comfortable.
It is choosing to be disciplined and knowing that saying "yes" to God means saying "no" to the world.
The more I read scripture, the more it speaks of living radically:
- "reckless in your love" (John 12:25, MSG)
- "Do not conform to the pattern of this world" (Romans 12:2, NIV)
- "Devote yourself to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and to prayer" (Acts 2:42, NIV)
- "save yourself from this corrupt generation" (Acts 2:40, NIV)
The apostles were the definition of selfless. First was God, others came second, and then they came third.
The most astonishing fact was that they did not claim ownership of their own possessions. They shared everything. They sold their lands and gave away their money, yet God always provided for them. They were never needy. This is such a foreign idea to our greedy society, that it seems outlandish to our ears. However, isn't that how we all should attain to live?
The goal isn't to be amazed by their efforts, but to take their lives as encouragement to do the same.
So, what would living radically for God look like in my life today? To begin, I would not worry about anything, and that means ANYTHING. The future, relationships, judgments, etcetera. Those insecurities would no longer matter because I would know that God would never leave me, and His opinion is the only one that matters. It would consist of me being more intentional with the people I encounter-- the people I look over every day, loving those in need, and so on. I would be more grateful for all the things I take for granted: food, eyes, taste buds, feet, shelter, a family who loves me, the unstoppable love from a sovereign God... Isn't that enough to change my life for?
Because we live in a fallen world, I know I am going to make mistakes and fall off the track. However, I will not succeed without God's help. I must humbly ask for help. Our faithful God will not disappoint.
Acts 4:38-39 says: "For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men." (NIV)
I leave you with this: take small steps in your life to live radically for God. Deny the enemy who tells you this isn't something to get excited and dance about. Deny the enemy's lies that say you are too broken to ever be enough for God. Deny those things and pray that God gives you the passion and strength to live radically.
God deserves SO much more than just our devotion and lives. We should at least attempt to give him that.
