Challenge Accepted!

Challenge accepted! I teased. A friend had just given me an assignment: Find each of the Twelve Steps in the Book of Lamentations. As the days passed, as I began to pray and to search, Step One which was present in abundance (I admit that --by myself, without Jesus --I am powerless over my addiction; that my life had become unmanageable.) was the only one I could find. But I kept at it. This is difficult, I'd sometimes think to myself. But I kept at it. I didn't complain, I didn't doubt, I didn't question my brother's wisdom or the implied claim that all twelve steps could be found; I just kept going, certain I would eventually get it. Why? Because this leader, this friend, this brother, this one who had never proven himself anything but trustworthy had charged us with finding them.

Can I say the same about every task to which my Savior leads me? Can I say, Challenge accepted! as enthusiastically as I blurted it out at our meeting? Can I, when things become difficult, merely notice the difficulty and continue forward? Can I trust that because my Leader, my Friend, my Brother, the One who has never proven Himself anything but trustworthy has given me something to do that it is entirely possible? not only that it is possible, but it is possible with Him as my ever-present Help? Do I have as much faith in my Savior as I have in my leader?

When Jesus speaks, Follow Me, do I look over my shoulder --first the right, then the left --hoping He's not speaking to me? Or do I drop my work, forsake the trappings of my immediate existence, and follow? When Jesus casually invites, Let us cross over to the other side, do I examine the skies, check my schedule, and calculate the level of difficulty? Or do I hop in the boat, pull up a cushion, and fall fast asleep in the company of the One the seas obey? When I hear the sounds of His work around me and feel the touch of His hand on me, do I recoil? I'm not sure I like the way You are working. Or do I submit? Thy will be done. When I read of His promises and the wonders He has performed for His people, do I allow that encouragement to be snuffed out by the feeble bottom line of a bank account or the echoes of generational curses? Or do I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the same God who cared for His people throughout history and promised eternal reward to His followers long ago is the same God who longs for my trust today? 

What I choose to believe is revealed by how I follow. If I believe what Scripture says about Jesus, His deity, His virgin birth, His death and resurrection, and all that does for the reconciliation of mankind to our Creator God, how can I not follow with my whole heart? How can I not follow immediately, assuredly, explicitly, and passionately? How can the troubles of this life receive more than a passing citation, and my King, my Savior, my Teacher, my Commander, my Shepherd not be lavished with all the glory He is due? How can I not carry on undaunted and resolute, knowing the very Way, Truth, and Life is calling me to do His work? How can I give up when the training is rigorous, or the labor is tedious? It is my Lord who leads the way. He is perfect and omniscient; He is trustworthy and omnipotent. He is Faithful and True, and will see me to the Finish Line of every race He calls me to run. I have only to agree and obey. Challenge accepted!