“Convenience plays a huge factor in so many of the decisions we make each day. We often consider what will be the most convenient when it comes to our daily plans, future decisions, and other basic events. We think about what the most convenient use of our time will be or how we can make something easier, faster, or more efficient. And oftentimes, it is both necessary and wise to think this way because it saves us time, money, and, let's face it, effort.
But some areas of our lives shouldn't be convenient. The decisions we make for relationships shouldn't always be about what's the most convenient. The way we handle struggles at work shouldn't always be about what's easier or faster. And, our relationship with Jesus should never be about convenience either.
Now, this is a big statement. This calls us to be uncomfortable, sacrificial, and in general, it asks us to be inconvenienced by our love for Christ. None of which is easy to do or to be.
With so many outside pressures and temptations, it's easy for us as Christians to justify sinful behavior. It's easy for us to decide that some sins are worse than others or for us to decide that certain sins are okay. Even more so, it's easy for us to sin without even being aware we are doing so. And sometimes, we abuse grace in the hopes that God will still be loving and forgive us anyways. We behave in a way that is convenient and hope that God won't do the same because regardless of our sin, we like to depend on the fact that God will still be there for us in a convenient way. So we continue to sin because it's convenient. But imagine if God only forgave us when it was convenient? Imagine if he only answered our prayers, showered us in grace, and loved us when it was convenient for Him?
We receive inconvenient (for Him), endless, unconditional love and forgiveness from Christ. And while it is inconvenient to sacrifice our desires, remove temptations, and struggle to live in a way that is pleasing to God, it is the loving response and the least we can do for someone who provides us with so much. While we will repeatedly fail at this and continue to sin, that is where His inconvenient grace and love is so great.
It's also convenient for us to pick and choose which parts of the bible work best for us. We are really good at memorizing the stereotypical verses that have everything in it for us because it's convenient to know those. We memorize verse after verse on God's love, power, strength, and forgiveness, yet we fail to recall the verses on His wrath, anger, and justness. We pick the rules and teachings that conveniently fit into our lifestyles, yet ignore the ones that might call us to any inconvenience.
But following God should be inconvenient. He calls us to live uncomfortable and radical lives. He challenges us to strengthen our faith and to act in crazy ways. He asks us to abstain from the things that tempt us the most. An inconvenient relationship with God leads to a life that flourishes with Jesus's strength, endurance, passion, forgiveness, and love. That sounds pretty convenient to me.” ~ Megan Graham
One of the easiest things to do is love when others treat us nice, we get a reward in return, or simply when we feel like it. I was taught to treat people with kindness and say nice things. But do I love like Jesus only when it’s convenient, or all the time as He commanded us to? I know that God has called us to love. Love isn’t conditional. I don’t love if this condition is met or if that command is met. Love should be shown regardless and sometimes I struggle with that. Love is always the right thing to do no matter how I feel. I can follow the rules because I’m supposed to. I give to charity, give to the church, pay my taxes, don’t drive off without paying for my gas at the pump. I’m aware of doing the right thing and I know what the bare minimum entails. But there’s another way to live and that’s like Jesus. Do I treat people with love when they gossip about me, do I sacrifice my time only when I feel like it, do I give to others only when I feel like it? There’s another way to live and that’s like Jesus. I know that Jesus is fully aware of our inaction and our half-hearted smiles. I’ll never believe that Jesus is cool with me quoting, “Love God and love your neighbor” while I pass that neighbor by, pretending I’m not aware there was a need. I’ve taught myself to make sacrifices for others when its convenient to my calendar and my bank account. If loving people is going to interrupt my schedule, I might have to take a raincheck. I live a life blinded to the reality of the struggles of the people around me. I know how to do the right thing. I can spend a lot of hours doing community service. I know how much money I’ve donated to charity, but all of that came at my leisure. It showed up at the right time in the right way so I did it.
So how can I change my attitude and perception of sacrificial living? When do I approach the teachings of Jesus as if they matter more than my convenience? When do I embrace the idea that loving others isn’t just the right thing, it’s the only thing. I know that I can’t help everyone, but that should be no excuse not to help anyone. It seems ridiculous to say this but here it comes…We can do this better. We can CHOOSE to love like Jesus did.
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