Comfort Zones

Have you ever had to step outside of your comfort zone? Have you ever felt so excited that you didn’t know what to do? That described me when I realized Jesus was inviting me to follow Him!  

I traveled to Richmond, VA for a weekend conference with a group of Amway distributors (network marketing). Who hears about Jesus at such a place? Jesus was not on my radar but thank God, I was on His! A nervous excitement gripped my soul as I surveyed the room for what was happening. Honestly, I was afraid. I had no point of reference for what was happening. I had never heard an altar call. It was all so unfamiliar to me. People were walking down to the front of the room in response to a lady minister’s invitation. Okay, maybe I did not get out very much, but I had never heard a lady preacher before. I did not understand what was happening. I still needed to be ... safe. Sad, but true.

I said, “Yes” to Jesus that day! I asked Him to forgive me of my sins and come live in my heart with tears running down my face. And I know He did! But go down front with those other folks? Nope.

It is amusing when I think about it now. At the next convention, I quickly made my way down to the front of the conference arena to say Yes to Jesus. And I grabbed the hand of a friend to go down as well. Sheer joy!

John the Baptist got to see Jesus in the flesh. We get to experience him in the spirit.

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

Take a moment and reflect on your first encounter with the Lord. Nothing can compare with that new sense of acceptance and belonging. You, too, got to behold the Lamb of God.

I, for one, rejoice that John’s own testimony says in verse 31,

“I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”

John could not have known that his simple act of obedience would reach all the way to the other side of the world centuries later, where God chose to plant me!

Later, in John 1:43 we read:

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Phillip and said to him, “Follow me.”

I do not know about you, but I could run around the block on that charge. Those words have literally leapt off the page and into my heart. That Jesus would accept a sinner, such as I, is still incomprehensible.

Jesus found me in Richmond and said the exact same words — “Follow me!” Thank the Lord we do not have to understand anything to receive His love in our hearts!

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for Your amazing grace that snatched us from the fiery furnace. Thank you for sending your Son to die for our sins that we might live! Thank You for adopting us as Your very own sons and daughters, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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Scripture is quoted from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.