By Joe Chesser
This may shock you, but nowhere in Scripture are we called
to be mediocre. In fact, Jesus condemned mediocrity (lukewarmness) in the
church in Laodicea (Revelation 3.15-16). Nowhere in Scripture are we called to
be drifters. Instead, we are warned of the danger of drifting spiritually
(Hebrews 2.1). Nowhere in Scripture are we called to be ordinary, common, or
average. In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus gave example after
example how his followers needed to exceed the lifestyle of the scribes and
Pharisees (Matthew 5.20). Going the extra mile, turning the other cheek, loving
our enemies and laying up treasures in heaven demonstrate but a few ways we are
called to rise above the ordinary to live lives of extravagance.
And why not? Our God is an extravagant God, and we are
called to be like Him! Think of the extent of God’s creation from the galaxies
in the universe to the creatures in the sea to the changing of seasons.
Extravagance does not adequately describe creation. Yet creation is nothing
compared to how He lavishes grace (Ephesians 1.7-8 NIV) and love (John 3.16; 1
John 3.1 NIV) on us. Plus there are His promises of forgiveness (1 John 1.9)
and comfort (2 Corinthians 1.3-4) and power (Ephesians 3.20-21) that fills us
with strength and hope. And words like gold and pearls and fine jewels can
never describe the extravagance of an eternal heaven that awaits His people (1
Corinthians 2.9).
The most amazing thing of all is that this incredible,
extravagant God has chosen to call us to become like Him and to be united with
Him forever (Ephesians 1.3-14). This passage uses terms to get us excited about
our calling to be in Christ, words like “every spiritual blessing … chosen …
holy and blameless … predestined … redemption … grace … forgiveness” and many
more. When we accept God’s call for salvation in Christ we are given the
opportunity to rise above the common, ordinary world around us. Extravagance
for Christians is not defined by excessive wealth, fame, power or position.
It’s not about being flashy or noticed. It’s about doing even ordinary things
in extraordinary ways.
As the Apostle Paul urged, we are to “walk in a manner
worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4.1). A part of
what that means is for us to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1.16); to forgive
as God forgives (Ephesians 4.32); to walk by faith and not by sight (2
Corinthians 5.7); to be a cheerful and generous giver as God is (2 Corinthians
9.6-8); to seek the lost with the passion of God (Matthew 28.19-20); to value
others as God does (Mark 12.30-31); to be faithful to God all our lives
(Revelation 2.10); to use the gifts God has given us (1 Peter 4.10-11; Matthew
25.14-30); and to worship God regularly in spirit and in truth (John 4.23-24). Extravagance
is learning from Jesus how to live above the world.
Since God is extravagant, and we are called to be like Him,
why would we ever be content with being ordinary or lukewarm? God is
challenging us to rise above human standards and accept His call to be
extravagant! How are you answering that call?
- Joe Chesser preaches for the Fruitland Church
of Christ, Fruitland, MO. He may be contacted at joeandareva@yahoo.com
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