The Crux of the Matter

Crazy Love has been a challenging book that has taken us on a journey.  We've been challenged to stop living lukewarm Christianity and to become men and women after God's own heart.  We've been reminded that it's not about working harder at "getting things right" but about developing a deeper relationship with The One who is our God.  We pursue crazy love because He first had a crazy love for us.

Wrapping up a study like this, it is easy to start looking around at aspects of our lives: marriage, family, work, Church Services, small groups, ministry teams, and more.  When we look at these various areas, it's easy to see how they "fall short" of the ideals espoused in this study.  Then, we look for the reasons they fall short.  Inevitably, we find fault in others.  My spouse doesn't...My boss always...My kids just don't...My pastor isn't...our church doesn't...etc.  It is in this moment, though, that we are reminded of one really hard truth:  No one can do it for me.

The Apostle, Peter, understood this all too well when he was challenged the night Jesus was on trial...
Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, "You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean." But Peter denied it in front of everyone. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth. " Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. "I don't even know the man," he said. A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, "You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent." Peter swore, "A curse on me if I'm lying—I don't know the man!" And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know Me." And he went away, weeping bitterly. (Matthew 26:69-75 NLT)

Peter had the best pastor ever. Jesus was his teacher.
Peter had the best small group ever. The Apostles were his small group.
Peter had the best worship experiences ever. He was at the transfiguration.
None of these things mattered when it came down to crunch time.
Peter walked away from Jesus.

The crux of the matter is simply this: I need to choose to walk together with God.
You have to decide to walk together with God for yourself.
When we do, things really start to take off.
Life gets amazing.

Isn't time we stop pointing our fingers at someone else and start choosing to walk ourselves? Imagine what will happen when we do.