Watch/Listen
They Loved The Way of Christ
Brian Mashburn
May 25, 2008
Audio Player
They Loved The Way of Christ
I have a friend that rides BMX bikes here in town. But he doesn't just ride, he also works on the track. He's always raking, wetting, packing, and improving it. He's also making it very easy for others to give it a go. He helps anyone with their gear, tires, brakes, sharing his expertise, tools and equipment with anyone he can. He's a constant encouragement to other riders (including me) to not give up, not worry, have fun, keep going, take a risk, learn and improve.
At a practice one day, I passed him just sitting by the fence on his bike, very still, staring at the track and the kids that were riding. Curious, I asked, "What are you thinking about, bro?"
He didn't hesitate, "About how much I love this. All of this."
"It shows," I told him.
In our study of Acts, we've wanted to know "What did the first followers do in order to co-create with God the exponential growth of the church?"
Well, we've learned they yearned in prayer consistently, they repeated the gospel message incessantly, they teamed up on the mission intentionally, they went to the poor and marginalized as a matter of course, they surrendered all they had, and (most amazing to me), they embraced persecution and danger willingly.
And here's the kicker: they loved it. They loved this way of life. If you saw Paul, Lydia, Jason, Barnabas, Peter, or Dorcas sitting reflectively and asked them what they were thinking about, I bet they wouldn't miss beat as they responded with something like, "About how much I love this. All of this."
Do you love this way of life? Have you been captured in a way that makes you want to yearn in prayer? Does it make you find the surrendering your possessions and goods irresistible? Does it make you rejoice to be counted worthy to suffer (Acts 5:41)?
If we don't, then that may explain a lot about any differences we might find between the fruit they got in Acts, and the fruit we might get in Amarillo. But if we do love this costly lifestyle of Christ, then it probably shows.