I Challenge YOU !!

Those of you in our Sunday School time last week were challenged to read Romans 12 every day this week.  I hope you have been and in so doing you read it slowly and prayerfully, asking God to show you what His Word means and how you can apply it.  Then later in the service the weekly challenge in the bulletin was to go on a two day media fast. In other words, no TV, radio or newspapers but to instead take that time to read the Bible and spend with family and friends.   I remember reading about a pastor who said his family first did it and they were all a little agitated on day one due to “media addiction” but soon found their nights turned into great times of playing games, reading a good book or THE Good Book, or just talking to one another (there’s a novel idea) !    But life is filled with challenges, sometimes they are thrust upon us and other times by our own choosing (either through our sin or even our good choices to stretch ourselves spiritually such as is the case with our weekly challenges at church).

It seems the apostles knew much about challenges and also left us challenges too !  Paul said, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  ” (Phil.3:14)  and Peter also urged us,   “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. . .” (2Pt.3:18).  They weren’t content to sit on their spiritual laurels but to move forward for the Lord.  Don’t take challenges lightly or so fearfully you don’t even try, put down that remote today or push yourself away from the laptop and pick up the Bible and spend a little time with God allowing Him to wash that worldly media saturated mind with what is truly good news.  Pick up the phone and see how a friend or shut-in at your church is doing.  Engage in a substantive conversation (and not just a monologue, listen too !!) with a friend or loved one.  I challenge you !