Bandwagon

With all of the sporting events going on these days we are seeing many people that are known as “bandwagon” fans.  These are people that are big fans of a team when they are doing well and winning and then the minute they start losing they decide they are no longer fans.  I think that this term can be used to refer to other things than just sports.  For example, you may be a huge supporter of a politician when they are making decisions that benefit you and make you happy, but the minute they make one mistake you pull your support.  The other example I can think of and the one I would like to talk about is the “Radical Bandwagon.”  I know many churches have challenged their congregation to read the book “Radical” by David Platt.  I have read the book and have even referred to it on my blog before.  Please don’t get me wrong.  I think it is a wonderful book that speaks truth and puts things in perspective, but I have to wonder how many of us are just bandwagon fans of the book?  I mean we preach “sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice,” but are we really willing to practice it? 

We have some good friends that are a great example of this.  Without going into a lot a detail I can definitely say that they have sacrificed for what God has called them to do.  They even gave up their house so he could continue to minister at the church that he was at.  He could have easily found another job, they would have been able to continue living where they were, and would have been able to stay comfortable without any changes.  This is not what they chose to do though because they knew God’s plan is bigger than their own.  They made the decisions that they did very humbly.  They did not flaunt that they were sacrificing.  They just did it because they knew it was right. 

On his way to submit his letter of resignation Jonathan got a phone call from a pastor at a church about 3 hours away.  He said they were in need of a worship pastor and would love for him to come interview and lead worship one Sunday.  Both mine and Jonathan’s immediate reactions were “thanks, but no thanks.”  I mean we like being close to family and we just bought our house a year ago.  We like where we are.  We are comfortable and not interested in changing that.  The pastor said ok, but he would still like for us to come visit if for nothing else, but the experience and the start of a friendship.  Jonathan told him that sounded good and that we would be looking forward to it.  After that God quickly began to work on our hearts.  We realized that this church may be where God wants us and we may have to make a few sacrifices, but that is what he has called us to do.  Here I had been leading our life group through a book about sacrifice, but was I willing to actually take that step of faith?  I want to practice what I preach.    

This is just something that has been on my mind lately as I know many of us have been enthusiastic about making big changes in our lives and fully living for the Lord.  Are we just jumping on the bandwagon or are we in it for the long haul?  Are we willing to stick with it through the thick and thin?  Please be in prayer for our family as we try to follow where the Lord is leading us.