My Utmost Journal - May 30th

My Utmost For His Highest

"Lord, I will follow Thee; but . . ."
~Luke 9:61

If someone put a gun to my head, asked me if I believe in God, and told me that they would pull the trigger if I said yes, I have no doubt in my mind that I would say yes. Letting others know that I'm a Christian is something that shouldn't be a big deal, and in extreme circumstances such as the example above, I wouldn't have a problem with it. But I have a fear of being categorized and stereotyped based on my beliefs and not on who I am. This fear leads me to occasionally avoid saying something that would let a stranger know of my beliefs.

It's dumb. In my head, I know that. But in that moment, it makes sense. I mean, if someone finds out I'm a Christian, they may not take the time to get to know me. How can I be a light in the darkness if I'm being blocked out? Right? Maybe?

The problem with this mindset is that I'm looking at hypothetical results of my actions and letting that determine my actions. If I do A, then B will probably happen. If I do C, then D will probably happen. Well, since B > D (arguably), I should do A. Except that B never happens, just as D wouldn't happen either. I can't see into the future and so deciding what to do based on what I think will happen is just as good as flipping a coin.

An even better alternative is to look at the two actions, say, A and C. Now, which of the two is Jesus asking/demanding of me? To proclaim to the world that yes, I am a Christian and that Jesus Christ is my Savior? Or to let that bit slide for a little longer until they get to know me? Hmmmm...tough decision, eh? Now how can I get that decision making process to translate into my daily life?


If you get into the habit of doing a thing in the physical domain, you will do it every time until you break the habit determinedly; and the same is true spiritually.

I have to consciously decide to break the habit I've created of disobeying God when He presents opportunities for me to admit/proclaim/acknowledge my faith to strangers. If I made a habit of biting my fingernails, I can't just suddenly decide to stop doing it and magically I never do it again. I have to be aware of the situations in which I normally would bite my nails and make a determined effort to not bite them. The same is true here. When and where am I presented with opportunities to acknowledge my beliefs from which I would normally back down? During those times, I need to make a determined effort to take advantage of that opportunity.


Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold by common sense and leap into what He says

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