“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”
Matthew 22:37-38
Let’s talk. Loving God with everything—heart, soul, and mind—sounds fantastic on paper, doesn’t it? But in real life, it can feel a little… overwhelming. We’re creatures of habit, after all. We like routines that make us feel safe, activities that keep us comfortable. And honestly, there’s nothing wrong with comfort—until it starts holding us back.
Here’s the thing: growth never happens in a comfort zone.In fact, sometimes our comfort zones turn into idols, locking us into a routine so familiar that we resist the very life Jesus is calling us to. It’s time to get unstuck and rediscover what it really means to love God with every fiber of our being.
Comfort Zones: Safe, But Stifling: Picture this: your favorite recliner. It’s been with you for years, shaped perfectly to fit your body, and it’s just the right spot for relaxing. That’s what a comfort zone feels like—safe, familiar, and oh-so-hard to leave.
For a lot of us, faith has become like that recliner: church on Sunday, a prayer here and there, and a general sense that God loves us. Be decent to people. Check. Done. But faith that stays in the comfort zone isn’t growing—it’s just coasting.
When Jesus says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind,” He’s not inviting us to stay put. He’s calling us to live a life of total surrender, to let Him stretch us beyond what feels safe.
The Idol of Comfort
Now, don’t get me wrong—there’s nothing inherently bad about comfort. But when it starts to overshadow our faith? That’s when we have a problem. Think about your weekly routines. Maybe it’s your golf game, your mah-jongg group, or your bowling league. All good things! But do those activities leave room for God? Or are they subtly edging Him out of your life?
Jesus doesn’t just call us to believe in Him; He calls us to follow Him. And following Him often means stepping out of what’s secure and stepping into something harder—something that grows us. Sometimes, the most loving thing we can do for God is to let go of comfort and embrace the challenge of living for Him.
What Does It Actually Mean to Love God?
Let’s get real here. Loving God isn’t just about believing the right things or avoiding the big, obvious sins. It’s about letting His love reshape your entire life—even the parts that feel untouchable.
With Your Heart: This is about desire. Who or what gets your first love? Is it your hobbies, your traditions, or your social calendar? Or is it God? Loving Him with your heart means talking to Him regularly, not out of obligation but because you genuinely want to. It’s thanking Him, leaning on Him, and sharing your struggles as you would with a trusted friend.
With Your Mind: Engaging your mind means diving into God’s Word and letting it change how you see the world. Have you ever read a passage like Romans 12:1—“present your bodies as a living sacrifice”—and stopped to think, “What would that look like for me today?” Loving God with your mind means asking those kinds of questions and acting on the answers.
With Your Soul: Loving God with your soul is about identity. You are not defined by how many friends you have, how well you play golf, or even the successes you’ve achieved. You are defined by God’s love for you. Loving Him with your soul means letting that truth shape how you live, think, and interact with others.
Breaking Free From the Comfort Zone
Here’s the rub: staying in your comfort zone doesn’t just stall your faith—it robs you of the joy that comes with loving God fully. Are there areas in your life where you’ve grown too comfortable? Maybe it’s your habit of avoiding hard conversations about faith. Or maybe it’s a lack of intention in your leisure activities, where you could reflect God’s love but don’t.
Jesus never said following Him would be easy, but He did promise it would be worth it. Breaking out of the comfort zone might mean starting a new devotional practice, sharing your testimony with someone, or even finding a way to serve that pushes you out of the familiar.
Worship as a Lifestyle
We often think of worship as something we do on Sunday mornings. But worship is much bigger than that—it’s a lifestyle. Romans 12:1 calls us to offer our whole selves to God as living sacrifices. What does that look like? It means inviting God into the everyday stuff: When you’re at your weekly card game, choose words that build others up instead of gossiping. At your bowling league, show grace and patience—even when someone bowls a gutter ball for the third time. During your next golf game, reflect kindness and humility, even when the competition gets intense.
Worship happens whenever we reflect God’s love in the ordinary moments of life.
Growth Happens in the Challenge
Here’s the beauty of stepping out of your comfort zone: it’s where growth happens.
Think about the disciples. When Jesus called them, they didn’t just nod and keep fishing. They left everything—jobs, routines, the safety of their comfort zones—and followed Him into the unknown. In doing so, they found a life they couldn’t have dreamed of.
The same is true for us.
When we let God stretch us, we grow. When we let Him challenge us, we experience joy, purpose, and a faith that feels alive. Ready for a Challenge?
Here’s something to chew on this week: identify one “comfort zone” habit that’s holding you back. Is it too much time spent on leisure without any intentional reflection? Is it avoiding a tough conversation about faith?
Whatever it is, pray about it. Ask God for guidance. And then take one step—just one—toward breaking free.
Let’s Get Practical
- Pray With Intention: Start your day by inviting God into your plans and asking Him to guide your interactions.
- Read Scripture Slowly: Choose a passage like Psalm 42 or Matthew 6:25-34 and reflect on how it applies to your life.
- Infuse Faith Into Leisure: Pray before your next game of cards, golf, or bowling, asking God to help you reflect His love in those moments.
- Step Into Service: Look for a small way to serve others this week, whether it’s through church or simply helping a neighbor.
- Share Your Journey: Tell someone what God is teaching you right now. It doesn’t have to be polished—just honest.
The Joy of a Life Fully Devoted
When we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, our faith comes alive. Yes, it’s challenging. Yes, it’s uncomfortable. But it’s also deeply rewarding. Our congregation will grow—not just in numbers, but in depth and vibrancy—when we leave the comfort zone behind and live as fruitful Christians. A faith that’s alive draws others in, not through gimmicks, but through the authenticity of transformed lives.
So, what’s it going to be? Stay in the recliner of comfort—or step into the life Jesus is calling you to?
The joy of loving God fully is waiting on the other side.
Your move.
Pastor Mark
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