Chasing Carrots: Chasing Comfort

Comfort: the pleasant and satisfying feeling of being physically and mentally free from pain and suffering, or something that provides that feeling.
We've convinced ourselves that if we can carve out a comfortable life, that we'll be fulfilled, satisfied, happy and content. Comfort is a false narrative that says I, based upon what I do, can be happy. Chasing comfort is man's attempt to be fulfilled without God. We've developed a false version of the Jesus story: come to Jesus and you'll be comfortable.

Mk 8:27-30 Peter answered, "You are the Messiah." The crowds are chasing hard after being where Jesus is for their own comfort. Jesus didn't want the disciples to tell people that he was the Messiah because they had an incomplete understanding of who he was. Peter was thinking about comfort, that Jesus would be king. Mk 8:30-38

Our problem is we're not thinking God stuff, we're thinking about ourselves.
1. We chase comfort when we should be chasing the cross. The cross means opposition, shame, suffering, and death. Taking up our cross means to be willing to be opposed, to be shamed, to suffer and to die. We must cherish Jesus more than life itself!
2. Growing involves being uncomfortable. If you are comfortable all the time, you will never grow. Jas 1:2-4, 1 Pet 1:6-8. Jesus needs to be more precious than anything in this world.
3. Be unashamed and uncomfortable. Mk 8:35-38. At worst, the pursuit of comfort can cost you your soul. At best, the pursuit of comfort can leave you on the sidelines being used by God. Step out in faith and sacrifice. Make ourselves uncomfortable for the Kingdom.
Jesus has set the example for us. Heb 12:1-3: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

One Another: Encourage One Another

Take Your Pills: Follow the Prescription (the one another verses)

Mt 22:37-39 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
1 Thess 5:7 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1. Focus on the good. Find opportunities to speak life into every situation or person you encounter. Phil 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Mt 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter,  and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
2. To encourage others well, you have to encourage yourself well first. Start with myself. Lk 6:45. Tell myself who God says I am.
3. Share your testimony. Rev 12:11 A testimony is us lending our faith to someone else.

One Another: Carry One Another's Burdens

Gal 6:1-2 - caught in sin, overtaken by sin
How do we carry each other's burdens in a way that it fulfills the law of Christ? Mt 22:37-39.
1. By first recognizing that all Christians sin. 1 Cor 10:13a; 1 Jn 1:8. Every one of us is vulnerable.
2. By allowing the Spirit to direct our steps. Gal 6:1 "you who live by the Spirit." Gal 5:16, 19-23a
3. By aiming to restore, not reprove. We don't have to restore others, but point them back to the ultimate restorer. 1 Pet 5:10
4. By not forgetting the grace of God we've each been and continue to be shown. Gal 6:1 "watch yourself, or you also may be tempted." Jn 8:7-11

One Another: Comfort One Another

2 Cor 1:3-11
1. God comforts us in all of our troubles. 2 Cor 1:4.
2. Affliction is a part of the human experience. 2 Cor 11:23-26; Jas 1:2-4
3. God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but he comforts us to make us comforters. 2 Cor 1:4. Comfort: to come alongside. God will come alongside us, even as we walk through the most painful things. He uses our pain, and wants us to comfort others.
4. Don't waste your pain. Acts 16:30-33. Paul was wounded, but he was praising Jesus and comforting others.
5. Our hope is in God. When you really need comfort, lean in to God. 2 Cor 1:8-9.
6. Put a little praise on your pain.

One Another: Forgive One Another

It's easy to love forgiveness when I'm the one being forgiven. It's hard to forgive others.

Reasons we give for not forgiving others:
1. I can't forgive, it's too big, too painful.
2. I need some time.
3. I'll forgive when they say they're sorry.
4. I can't forgive if I can't forget.
5. If I forgive, they'll just hurt me again.

Col 2:13-14, 3:5, 8, 12-13; our sins were forgiven through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
Mt 18:21-35

1. There is no scorecard in forgiveness. We need to have a heart of forgiveness.
2. Unforgiveness with affect you.
3. Unforgiveness will affect everyone around you.
4. Unforgiveness will affect your relationship with God. Mt 6:14-15 If you forgive others, your Father will forgive you.
5. Because we've been forgiven much, we forgive.
6. Forgiveness is a command, not a suggestion.

One Another: Love One Another

Jn 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

How Jesus loved us:
1. Jesus Loved Conspicuously: (standing out so as to be clearly seen) Agape - love is an action, a choice (i.e. healing the sick, being a servant, stood up for the outcasts and spent time with sinners). Eph 5:1; 1 Jn 3:18; 1 Cor 13:1-3
2. Jesus Loved Sacrificially: Jn 3:16; 1 Jn 4:8. To love sacrificially the way Jesus loved, is often inconvenient.
3. Jesus Loved Unconditionally: Rom 5:8; Jn 6:32, 35; Lk 6:35; 23:34
4. Jesus Loved Deeply: The woman at the well - Jn 4; 1 Pet 4:8

What is the distinguishing mark of my life? What characteristic would people say about me?

Reconciliation

2 Cor 5:17-21
1. The definition of reconciliation: the restoration of friendly relationships, putting a broken relationship back together.
2. The need for reconciliation: Col 1:21, Eph 2:1-2. We are in desperate need of reconciliation with God due to our sin.
3. The process of reconciliation: 2 Cor 5:18-21. Reconciliation comes through Jesus' death and resurrection. He lived a life that we could never live and he died the death that we should have died. The righteousness of Christ was deposited into our account so that we could be reconciled to God. God takes all of the steps toward us to reconcile the relationship.
4. The result of reconciliation: 2 Cor 5:19 "He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though we were making his appeal to us."