Normal is overrated!

You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble - Jesus, Matthew 5:10-12

I think one of the things we seek for is a normal life - as defined by popular culture and those around us. When many of us go through tough times we start crying out, "why can't I have a normal home, church life, neighborhood, relationship etc." This is understandable. No one craves trials, pressures, stress and strain.

But the life and message of Jesus challenges us to pursue a life that's not normal. It calls us to run away from the comfortable, safe and calm. It invites us to embrace trouble, rejoice in rejection, and find joy in pain.

How is that? Well Jesus says be happy when you are rejected for my sake. When you identify with Christ by lifestyle you automatically renounce the normal life and step into another kind of life. We step into a life of self-denial (not doing what we want to do but what He wants us to do) and a life of self-sacrifice (pouring out our lives in service to God and man). Will we get high fives and accolades for it - sometimes. But Jesus tells us more times than not we'll be called weird, corny or abnormal.

Well I guess if the life of following Christ is abnormal, I want that. I think normal is overrated. I choose Christ's abnormal life - let's just call it an abundant life! Worshiping God, enjoying His forgiveness and grace, using our talents to serve others, growing daily into being like Him and even giving it all up for the one who gave it all up for us...sounds great to me!

Normal is overrated. I'll take abundant any day. How about you?