The Power of Radical Obedience and Restoring Your Heart by Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone with Jesus

Have you ever found yourself in a situation completely out of your comfort zone? Maybe it was a new job, a new city, or even a new relationship. It can be uncomfortable and scary to step out of what we know and into the unknown. But what if I told you that those uncomfortable moments are often the places where we need to go to restore our hearts?

In Matthew 16:13-17, Jesus takes his disciples on a journey that would take them out of their comfort zone and into a place where their hearts would be restored. Jesus asks them, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" The disciples give various answers, but then Jesus asks them a more pointed question, "But what about you? Who do you say I am?" Peter, one of the disciples, responds with a declaration that would change the course of his life, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus commends Peter and tells him that this declaration is not something he came up with on his own, but was revealed to him by God.

This moment was a blessing for Peter and the other disciples. They had been following Jesus for some time, but it was at this moment that their hearts were restored, and they could fully understand who Jesus was and the mission he had come to accomplish.

But this blessing was not just for the disciples. It is a blessing that is available to all of us. The determination of our lives is based on who we say Jesus is - this confession is not just a matter of words, but it is a matter of the heart. Your heart cannot be transformed by who others think Jesus is. Your life is not restored; you are not redeemed by anything other than you confessing that Jesus is Lord. We are not in charge, He is, and we are to live accordingly.

When we treat Jesus as anything other than Lord, we undermine who he is. Jesus is not a get-out-of-hell-free card, and this can be a difficult truth to accept. We like to think that we are in control of our lives, but the reality is that we are not. We must step out of our comfort zones and follow Jesus wherever he leads us.

In the ancient world, there was a festival called Lupercalia in honor of the god Pan. People would come from all over to celebrate and indulge in all sorts of sinful behavior. It was a place where people went to forget about their troubles and enjoy themselves. But Jesus had a different plan and in Matthew 16:18, He said, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not stand against it."

The church is not a place where we go to forget about our troubles and indulge in sinful behavior. It is where we come to be restored and transformed by the power of Jesus Christ.

So, who do you say Jesus is? Is he just a good teacher? A moral example to follow? Or is he the Messiah, the Son of the living God?

If you have not yet made this confession, I encourage you to do so today. Confessing that Jesus is Lord is the first step on a journey that will take you out of your comfort zone and into the places you need to go to restore your heart. It may not always be easy, but the blessing that comes from following Jesus far outweighs any discomfort we may experience along the way.

As followers of Jesus, it's important to remember that it's not our job to determine what is right and wrong, holy and unholy, - that's a job for God alone. Our job is to trust in Him and obey His commands, even when it takes us out of our comfort zones and then lead our families and ourselves accordingly.

In John 3:17, Jesus says, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." Our role is not to condemn but to love and serve others in radical obedience to Christ. Building Kingdom in our local community means reaching out to people who don't agree with us, just as Jesus and his disciples did. It means stepping out of our comfort zones and loving people who may be difficult to love.

And let's be honest; sometimes, it's not easy to love those who are different from us. It's easy to fall into the trap of judging others and thinking we know what's best for them. But that's not our job. Our job is to love and serve others, regardless of their beliefs or background. So let's be radical in our obedience to Christ. Let's step out of our comfort zones and love people who may not be easy to love. Let's build Kingdom in our local communities, even when it's hard. And let's do it all with joy and humor, knowing that we serve a God bigger than our problems or challenges.

To wrap things up, let us remember that our lives are not our own, but belong to the One who created us. We are called to follow Jesus wherever He leads us, even if it requires us to step out of our comfort zone. This means embracing radical obedience to Christ, as we are reminded in Romans 10:9: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Only through confessing that Jesus is Lord can we be redeemed and live a life that truly glorifies Him. So let us take courage, step out in faith, and trust that the One who calls us is faithful to guide us every step of the way.

In Christ,
Kara

Kara Housdan, a committed writer by profession and a dedicated staff member at MVMNT, skillfully combines her talents as a content creator and social media manager. Her devotion to faith, family, and Jesus fuels her creative spirit. With a passion for uplifting stories, Kara expertly crafts engaging narratives while adeptly managing the dynamic online presence of the MVMNT community.