I’m back at my desk after thirteen overflowing days at a conference with approximately 5,000 people who are committed to Christ and the calls of His Kingdom. While a variety of theological “fine points” were represented, fundamental biblical truths were agreed upon and affirmed. Some participants were exhausted from draining ministry or grieving over loss, others were exuberant with indescribable enthusiasm at seeing God work miracles in their lives and the lives of others. While ethnic, gender and generational diversity was evident, God’s heart for more—always more—was craved by many, encouraged for all.

Sitting for hours with my brothers and sisters in the cavernous Moby Arena at Colorado State University, I was moved by this army of men and women committed to “see Christ more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly…”*

“But,” I wondered, “what if this same commitment, enthusiasm, heart-ripping obedience to love others according to Christ’s example and command were possessed and practiced by every Christian, of every age, from every economic strata, from every denomination, of every color…

…what if each of us cried out as did Old Testament Caleb: ‘Give me this mountain!’

…what if we prayed as did martyred Jim Eliot: ‘Forgive me for being so ordinary while claiming to know so extraordinary a God.’

…what if we begged as did Spurgeon, “…if they (sinners) will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay.’

…what if we chose to be radically obedient until our last breath to the call of God, agreeing with David Platt: ‘Radical obedience to Christ is not easy… It’s not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than enough for us.’”**

Just wondering…

*Richard, Bishop of Chichester, 3 April 1253

**David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream