Will You Be an Extreme Disciple of Christ?

by Colin Michael

Someday, yes, someday very soon you will think to yourself, “What I’m doing doesn’t make a difference. Who I am and what I am doing doesn’t really matter to God.” Sure, you’ll think it. You might even believe it for awhile. But that doesn’t make it true. That’s not possible. Jehovah is a personal and purposeful Creator who can do nothing by mistake nor ever be unaware of something or someone. The real question is, what are you doing about it? What will you do in light of the fact that what you do and who you are is important to your Maker? Will you be as extreme about your faith as you are about your sports, your music, your relationships with people? Will you bloody your knees in prayer the way you have skateboarding? Will you defend the Name of Jesus and His reputation the way you did for your (ex) girlfriend? Will you obey His call as religiously as you do the ads demanding that you buy the latest album?

Maybe you're a slacker, maybe you have been labeled in some way... but not by God. What you do and how you do it really matters. You matter. Will you be an extreme disciple?

What do I mean by the term Extreme?

So many things are labeled extreme these days that the word may be losing its meaning. We have extreme sport, extreme video games, and extreme makeovers. There's even a web site for extreme ironing, if that makes any sense. But what makes something extreme?

Being in or attaining the greatest or highest degree; very intense; extending far beyond the norm.

Can your faith and practise as a Christian be described as "extending far beyond the norm" or at least above average? When you here the name Tony Hawk, what comes to mind? How about the name George Lucas, or Arnold Schwarzenegger. What they are or what they have done jumps into your head faster than their face. Now, what about your name? When people who know you hear your name mentioned, what comes first to their minds?

For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that I shall be ashamed in nothing, but as always now Christ shall be magnified in my body with all boldness, whether it is by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
 
			(Philippians 1:19-21 MKJV)

The extreme disciple of Christ will remind others of his Lord. Not because he is a superman who ministers to many or a great preacher or the best soulwinner. Quite the opposite. The disciple of Christ is the servant of all, quick to help and comfort, steeped in the Word, and overflowing with Christ's love. Yes, that's a tall order, but no man has to walk the road alone. We have Christ's example, the Father's help through prayer and the Spirit indwelling. Along side we can also have our fellow-labourers.

So, have you given up already, before you could even get started? Have you fallen too many times to try again? I bet Tony Hawk has more scars than you'd care to count, but he still gets up and takes on the next stunt, and that is just skateboarding! You have a calling the really counts. Get up, get back in the game, and get extreme for Jesus.

Continue extending far beyond the norm; catch up with the Extreme Disciple Blog.