Imagine that you're sitting on a nice, comfortable couch. Imagine that couch has all of the fixtures. It can recline, massage your feet, and even hold all of the television remotes. After some time sitting in that couch you leave a seat imprint. Every time sitting on the couch from then on becomes even more and more cozy. Eventually, you don't ever feel like getting up.

And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. —Matthew 8:14-15 (ESV)

Being sick, a bed may seem mighty comfortable. Physically though, it drains you. With fever for who knows how long, Peter's mother-in-law laid in a bed, drained, sick, and tired. Yet, what did she do when Jesus healed her? She didn't say, "Oh give me a few more minutes to rest." She got up and she served Him. No hesitation. No looking back on her illness. She simply served.

"For I was hungry and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." Then the righteous will answer him, saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?" And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it for me."
—Matthew 25:35-40 (ESV)

More than once recently those last two verses have come up in my own life and at some point every day I think about them. They convict me and make me ask the same questions the righteous asked. When did I see Him hungry and feed Him? When did I give Him something to drink? When did I see Him as a stranger and welcomed Him? When did I clothe Him when He was naked?

When did I make an imprint on my own comfortable couch instead?

There is a greater calling God has called His children to. A MUCH greater calling. He does not want us making imprints on our comfortable couches, but instead, to make imprints on the world for His glory. I feel like I'm missing it sometimes because of the lack of comfort or worldly approval I receive. But then again, when was serving God a comfortable experience? Just as God has called us to do, I challenge and encourage you to see how far God is willing to stretch and mold you: even if it may be uncomfortable. There is nothing more rewarding and fulfilling than following the path God takes us on. He calls for us to be like Peter's mother-in-law. He calls for us to be Davids. He calls for us to be Abrahams, Esthers, Pauls, Ruths, and Peters, no matter the situation and circumstances. The whole world does not have to know. It can be just between you and God. Wherever He guides you will be His will, and His purpose for you is unlimited. When we humbly lay ourselves down at His feet, truly willing and sacrificially ready to serve Him, He can raise us to our greatest potential.

Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.
—Crazy Love, Francis Chan

Copyright © by Jessica Brown Share