June 30, 1999

FAMILY MATTERS:
A 'too clean' life is no life at all
___An anonymous author tells of a man who lived a "safe" life. He saw people love each other, and he saw the strenuous demands of love. He decided love cost too much. He decided not to diminish his life with love.
___He saw people strive for distant goals. He saw men strive for success and women strive for high ideals. He saw that the striving was often mixed with disappointment. He decided not to soil his life with striving.
___He saw people serving others. He saw that the more they served, the faster the need

STEVE SMITH Minister to Singles Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano

grew. He decided not to soil his life with serving.
___When he died, he presented his life to God--undiminished, unmarred and unsoiled. He proudly said, "Here is my life!"
___God said, "Life? What life?"
___This man failed to see that loving God and others, serving God and others, and striving after God are activities in which we need to participate. He failed to recognized Jesus' prayer for us to be "in the world."
___By living life in this world, we see others come to faith in Christ through our words of love, hope and assurance.
___Christians too often remove themselves from the struggles of society so they do not get hurt or disappointed. Yet Jesus constantly teaches his disciples the "go" attitude.
___Not only did Jesus tell his disciples to constantly go, but he also lived out that command as a model to all disciples. Our role is to go into the world and discover the excitement of demonstrating God's love to others. Being free from rejection and disappointment are not part of the Christian life.
___As we live in this world, just as Christ did, we must realize that living a spot-free life does not mean living life in a box, secluded from the world. Life begins and ends with Jesus Christ. So, in living, we must give our lives away, just as Jesus gave his life away.
___Rather than trying to play it safe, may we as Christians be the ones to boldly step out and be the leaders in taking risks for the kingdom of God. What a tremendous privilege to participate with Christ in changing the world. Nothing could be more exciting than living a life that draws others to Christ.
___So ask yourself, what is my life like? Am I so busy trying to stay "clean" and live without disappointment that I miss out on opportunities to meet needs, to share love and to experience the joy of accomplishment and achieving goals?
___I pray that none of us misses out on life!
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