I am perturbed by the current state of Christianity. We have succumbed to a mediocre faith of few requirements and a perception of even fewer consequences. As usual, A.W. Tozer says it perfectly: “Faith now means no more than passive moral acquiescence in the Word of God and the cross of Jesus. To exercise it we have only to rest on one knee and nod our heads in agreement with the instructions of a personal worker intent upon saving our soul.”
I’m not certain how we got here but it’s not what Jesus had in mind when He was being tortured and crucified on our behalf. Jesus’s faith in the Father cost Him everything. It caused Him to lead a difficult life and die a gruesome death. His was not a faith of mediocrity or passive moral acquiescence to the standards of His Father.
The faith of Jesus was fierce. It had teeth. Can you say the same about your own? When was the last time your commitment to Christ cost you anything of consequence? When was the last time you took a risk for the sake of the Kingdom? Our mission is to bring the Kingdom of God into reality here on earth. It is to go and tell everyone about the good news of Jesus. Our mission requires us to get among the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned (Matthew 25:31-46). Jesus said we are either for Him or against Him (Matthew 12:30). What are you doing for Jesus? What in your life is working against Him?
I want a fierce faith. I want a faith that costs me something. How else is our love for Christ proven? If we are not willing to identify with Him in life, what makes us think He’ll identify with us in death (Matthew 7:22-23)? I want to follow Him wherever He leads without hesitation and throwing caution to the wind. I don’t want to rationalize decisions or seek to justify my actions. I only want to do what He gives me to do, do it without delay, and do it well. I am in Christ and nothing else matters. What He says I will do; where He leads I will go.
What does a fierce faith look like for you? Are you living it today or are you stuck in the mire of mediocrity? Don’t you want to give some teeth to your faith? Don’t you want to give as much for Jesus as He gave for you? Do you love Him enough to do that? Are you committed enough to Him to commit to living like Him? Fierce faith knows no boundaries and no fear. It knows only Jesus.
Are you ready to dive into a fierce faith? Are you willing to have your life turned upside down? Remember what Jesus did for you. Are you simply grateful or committed to Him as He was, and is, to you? Jesus does not tolerate mediocrity in His Kingdom. He spits it out (Revelation 3:15-16). It is unacceptable. Jesus wants fierce followers with a fierce faith in Him no matter the cost. Will that be you?