But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”
Matthew 20: 22 (NLT)
Scripture: Matthew 20: 20-28
We sometimes thinks that our ministry should be smooth sailing because we are doing God’s work. However, they sometimes turn out to be some of the scariest times when God calls us out of our comfort zones. This devotion looks at some ways that God calls us out of our comfort zone to minister for Him.
Cliff Notes
- Sometimes, believers are called to leave their family and friends.
- The Bible warns that “… everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (II Tim. 3: 12 NIV).
- We are supposed to rely on God, not ourselves.
To read devotions in the Called Out of Our Comfort Zones series, click the appropriate button below.
Wouldn’t it be great if we wouldn’t be called out of our comfort zones when we are doing the ministry God has called us to do? Unfortunately, Jesus said His disciples were going to real soon. Let’s look at the story of James and John’s mother sticking her nose into the situation.
Let's Put It into Context
One day, a helicopter Mom (HM) came up to Jesus and asked Him to single out her sons for a special favor. James and John’s HM wanted them to be seated on either side of Jesus when He took His throne.
Yes, I know. These pushy moms. Besides coming off as controlling, she managed to tick off the other disciples.
But really, if you think about it, you can kind of see where HM is coming from for the request. Those two, along with Peter, made up the inner circle of Jesus’ friends. They got to see the transformation. Why wouldn’t you think they would get places of honor in His kingdom?
Jesus politely says, “Lady, you are out of your gourd. You don’t know what it is that you are asking.”
Then, Jesus asks a question of His own. “James and John, will you be able to drink the cup that I am going to drink?” (Mt. 20: 22).
We need to look at the significance of the cup for a second. A cup was used as a metaphor for fate (Ps. 16: 5; Ps. 23: 5).
Jesus knew what the cup held for James and John. He told them that they would be sliding out of their comfort zones in the not so distant future. Let’s take a look at what some of those comfort zone could have been.
Family and Friends
James and John — and this might be extended to us — were called to leave their family and friends. “If you come to me but will not leave your family, you cannot be my follower. You must love me more than your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters—even more than your own life!” (Lk. 14: 26 ERV). Oh, man. That sounds over the top.
Leave what you have known all of your life. Leave your support group. Leave the ones you are supposed to support and protect.
I really don’t think Jesus is saying cut yourself off from everyone who has meant the world to you forever and ever. I think he was essentially saying, “Show me You love me most.”
“Show me that you will do what I tell you to, go where I tell you to go, and minister in the way that I tell you to minister.” He was making sure that we would follow His plan for our lives.
Pain
Matthew 5: 10 tells of the blessing we will receive, but Matthew 5: 11 tells of what we have to go through to get there. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Mt. 5: 11 NIV). In other words, it is gonna hurt.
Romans 8: 35 doesn’t help much either. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (NIV). That is a list of scary stuff.
At least we will have company — each other. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (II Tim. 3: 12 NIV). Misery in numbers, right?
Oh, man. Did you see that? “… everyone who wants to live a godly life …” (II Tim. 3: 12 NIV). It didn’t say it was limited to those who succeeded. It said everyone … who wants to follow Him.
It looks like it says that we try to do the right things – what God wants us to do – and we get hammered anyway. Talk about pain.
Self-Reliance
The worldview tells us we have to rely on ourselves. We are boss; we make our own decisions. And a lot of us are more comfortable that way.
That isn’t God’s way. We have to put things into perspective. “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” (Rom. 12: 3 ESV).
God wants us to reply on Him. He has the plans for our lives (Jer. 29: 11). They are the best.
We have been specifically told not to rely on ourselves and what we can earn in this world. “Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf” (Prov. 11: 28 NIV).
Making the Connections
There are so many things that can take us out of our comfort zones. In this series, we have barely scratched the surface.
But even as we are sliding out of our comfort, God is there to comfort us. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4: 6 ESV).
God is there to bolster us. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1: 9 ESV).
I thought it was really interesting. I wrote this devotion this morning (Saturday). Tonight, I did my Bible Study lesson for Sunday. My ladies and I are moving from 1st Timothy to 2nd Timothy.
Paul wrote this letter to his “son” to strengthen Timothy’s confidence in Christ. The whole time I am dictating in what we will discuss tomorrow, I am thinking how it dovetailed with what I wrote this morning.
Here are some quotes that I pulled word for word from my leader’s guide. “Confidence in Christ enables us to face challenges by His power rather than our self-sufficiency.”
Paul was able to share his own personal experiences and knowledge that the Lord would protect him in pursing Christ in his life.”
The focus isn’t on us and what we can do. The focus is on God and what He will do through us – if we allow Him to do it. He will protect us – even when – especially when – He asks us to minister outside of our comfort zones.
How Do We Apply This?
I think this is something we are going to have to process when the time comes. When we feel like latching on to our comfort zones, we are just going to have to weigh things out.
Then we need to make the decision to do things God’s way. Yes, it will hurt. No, it isn’t going to be easy.
We may need an attitude adjustment. We may need to up our reliance on Him.
God has called us to further His kingdom. He will equip us to accomplish that. We need to trust that He is in control and His ways are perfect.
Father God. You are all powerful. Yet, You have devised Your plans for mankind to use us to further Your kingdom. Lord, we are weak and broken. May we grow in You. Help us to not look to ourselves thinking we’ve got this. Remind us that our comfort is in You, not in our comfort zones. May You always find us faithful. Amen.
What do you think?
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