What Would You Do for the One Who Died in YOUR Place??

Good Friday...today is the day we celebrate that Jesus took our place on the cross to satisfy the requirements of our Perfect God. 


"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep." 1 Corinthians 15:3-6

You know, I can get so used to that fact that I stop asking what would I do for such a Man who died for me so I could live eternally in Heaven. But what WOULD I do? And here is where my world has been recently re-rocked. Would I take up my cross (implement of torture), would I face the rejection of others telling them they can be saved too (why in the world would that be an unpopular message), would I open my home to whomever needs one, would I give away everything I have, would I sacrifice a secure future, would I give up earthly comfort and pleasure...

Am I living my Christian walk the same way I got through High School and College, contenting myself to do just enough to sneak by?

But Jesus didn't stop at saving me. He has a Kingdom for me! What would I do for the Man (who is also GOD) who saved me AND gave me a Kingdom? Anything? Everything? 

Now...here's the passage that has recently rocked my world (mostly because I usually read the "worry" parallel passage in Matthew 6 and seemed to be ignoring this one). 

"And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:29-34

Honestly this passage had been placed on a "back burner" in my mind. I had it in my mind that Jesus only told "The Rich Young Ruler" (Mark 10) to give away all that he had. I had neatly reasoned that this was because Jesus knew his money was his idol. So, as long as my money wasn't my idol I could keep it and make a hefty savings account for emergencies and a sustainable retirement account my goals (Consider the ant, you say?? What crazy ant have you found that stored up supplies to use in 30 years??). I could have a reliable car and an "American sized" home and, and, and...and on it goes...

But WHAT would I GIVE this MAN (who is also GOD)...this One who was tortured and beaten and hung on a cross for me...and then went to prepare an eternal KINGDOM in Heaven and then sent HIS HOLY SPIRIT to indwell me so that I felt HIS presence and had HIS power?

WHAT? Just church on Sunday, a neat and tidy church ministry, a set aside percentage of money, a few meals to the sick, an answer for the hope within me only when I am asked?? Is that all?? Really?? Is that "the purse that won't wear out?"

For the past few years (really since we came to our current church) everything I do I hear God saying, "No, deeper..."

Administrating a ministry...No deeper...

Working one on one with people, teaching and discipling...no deeper...

Youth group...no deeper...

Setting aside time to love on/play with inner city kids...no deeper...

Giving away more (but not all)...no deeper...

(These are all GREAT ministries, please don't get me wrong. But God was/is asking me to go deeper and to get "dirtier" and to give "all" of myself not neat packages of planned hours.)

So I am praying and learning and asking God to teach me to go as deep as he wants to take me. I wish I could say that I've launched myself off the high dive. But I haven't. I seem to test out every lower diving board on my way up...a little higher...a little higher...to jump further and further down...deeper...deeper...

I pray with all my heart God gives me courage to go deeper and deeper still.

What would I do for the Man (who is God) who died IN MY PLACE, the innocent dying for the guilty, and then who is giving me a Kingdom, and his Holy Spirit.

What would I DO?