Now, if you were to isolate the reasons why this person is so awesome, I’m guessing all kinds of things would come to mind: their stamina and courage, their character and compassion, their patience and charisma.
But there’s one characteristic that marks almost every awesome person: they are willing to leave their comfort zone for a larger cause.
Take Rosa Parks, for example. She could have easily stayed put at the back of the bus in her seat. But because she knew it was crucial to advance the cause of justice and equality, she stepped out of her comfort zone and refused to move. The rest is history, changing the lives of millions.
Myron Augsburger, the Mennonite evangelist and theologian, is one of the most awesome people I know. Once I asked Myron why he kept risking for Jesus, constantly leaving his comfort zone to expand mission points.
“It’s like this, Paul,” Myron shared. “As a Christ-follower, I’m called to live in more than one world. For example, my home is in Harrisonburg, Virginia, but I’ve learned to be equally at home in Washington, D.C., on the West Coast, or in India—all for the cause of Jesus. Paul, as a Christ-follower, you’ve got to learn to live in more than one world.”
Have you noticed that Jesus lived in more than one world?
Jesus was very much at home in Nazareth, but to accomplish His mission, He constantly ventured out. During His earthly ministry, Jesus traveled to Capernaum, Cana, Tyre, Sidon, Bethany, Emmaus, the wilderness, and Mount Hermon.
Based on the Gospel accounts alone, it is estimated that Jesus “chalked up” a whopping 3,000 miles of mission travel.
Think about it: Jesus could have easily stayed put in His comfort zone, the familiarity of His home in Nazareth. But He knew that to accomplish His calling—to be about His Father’s business, to truly be on mission—He needed to live in more than one world.
It’s tempting to stay put in our comfort zone. But like Jesus, to accomplish our calling—to be about our Father’s business, to truly be on mission—we need to live in more than one world.
That means not just being committed disciples, but growing into awesome disciples who repeatedly leave their comfort zones and risk for the Savior.
But some of us push back.
“Paul, in all honesty, I think I’m already doing my part. Given all I have on my plate—and at my age and station in life—I don’t need more awesome. I need more Advil! I need to check out for a while and get some rest and diversion.”
One day at the water trap, one of the golfers encountered a talking frog.
“Listen,” the frog said. “If you kiss me, I’ll turn into an awesome, gorgeous princess.”
The golfer thought and thought and thought. Finally, he grabbed the frog and put it in his pocket.
“Are you crazy?” his buddy exclaimed. “Why didn’t you kiss it?”
“Well, it’s like this,” the golfer replied. “At my age, I’d rather have a talking frog!”
I get it. At any age, young or old, we get tired and reach our limits. We don’t need more awesome—we just need the kids to sleep through the night or our medical challenges to settle down.
But at any age or condition, God still calls us to go beyond our fatigue toward even greater expressions of His mission in Jesus.
For Peter reminds us in Acts 2:17:
“I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.”
So, what is your next mission dream?
What is your next prophecy—your next vision for the outreach of your local congregation?
In Israel, there are two principal bodies of water: the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea.
The Sea of Galilee is an incredible lake—13 miles long and 7 miles wide. It is filled with fish and surrounded by lush foliage. It is also home to countless birds, including cranes, pelicans, and more than 25 species of raptors, such as imperial eagles and spotted eagles.
On the other hand, the Dead Sea is a desolate body of water, 50 miles long and 11 miles wide. It contains no fish, seaweed, plants, or living creatures. In fact, fish that accidentally swim into it quickly die because of the extremely high salt content.
Yet both the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee are fed by the same source of water: the fresh, living Jordan River.
The difference is simple.
The Sea of Galilee releases the living water it receives back into the Jordan and beyond.
The Dead Sea releases nothing. It retains everything it receives.
The result is striking.
The Sea of Galilee is full of life and vitality.
The Dead Sea is a place of death and stagnation.
The same is true for people and churches.
When we release and share the living water we receive from Jesus, we thrive and live.
When we hoard and retain it, we stagnate and die.
Awesome people and awesome churches—those who live in more than one world and risk beyond their comfort zones—share the living water they receive.
They do this not primarily for their own vitality, as important as that may be, but for the vitality of others.
They know that sharing Jesus in word and deed is a life-or-death mission, impacting not just us but all people—beginning in our neighborhoods, then extending to our towns, our regions, our nation, and eventually our world.
This widening mission echoes Jesus’ call in Acts 1:8:
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (emphasis added)
So keep witnessing in your Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth— wherever that may lead!
Keep getting out of your comfort zone and living in more than one world, acting out your identity as awesome disciples.
Get out of your familiar seat. Move to the front of the bus. Risk.
And help change the world for Jesus.
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