They are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant! -II Cor. 10:12

Catalyst Takeaway #3 – The Dangers of Comparing

Rick Warren had an incredible talk at Catalyst. At one point he started talking about comparison and said there are two dangers that come with comparing:

1.) We’ll find people better than us and get discouraged

2.) We’ll find people we’re better than and get into pride

He went on to say that at our judgment, Jesus isn’t going to ask, “How come you weren’t more like them(your heroes, the people your comparing yourself to, etc.)?” He’s going to say,”I made you to be you – I don’t need doubles, why weren’t you more like you?”

Jud Wilhite said, “Until you settle the identity issue in your life – you’ll never have or be enough…there is no enough – you need to learn to enjoy the journey. We need to surrender our view of us for God’s view of us. When you know God’s love for you – you don’t need validated from any other source.”

I think we all struggle with identity and comparison issues in our lives, however I believe everyday we can take one step closer to realizing who we are in Him. The more revelation we have that we’re complete in our union with Christ (Col. 2:10), the faster comparison and insecurity will fade away.

Thoughts?

Nothing is impossible with God. -Luke 1:37

Catalyst Takeaway #2 – Nothing is Impossible

“You’d be dishonoring God if you don’t live your life believing you could change the world.” -Nick Vujicic

After going to Catalyst, I really recognized that nothing is too big for God. He is bigger than I could ever imagine and He wants to do in and through me more than I could ever dare, ask, think, or imagine (Eph. 3:20). Here are some of my favorite takeaways and how they relate:

It’s not about ability – it’s about availability - we get so caught up in comparing ourselves with others that we aren’t available for God to use… stop focusing on other peoples gifts, and focus on the gifts God gave you.

The size of vision God will give me is directly related to the amount of pain and discomfort I’m willing to endure – Just because it’s possible with God, doesn’t mean it is going to be easy – “The road to success is uphill all the way.”

Leadership/Seeing Your Vision Come to Pass is as Easy as Listening to God - Literally…The answer to 1,001 questions is – BE LED! I like what Perry Noble said, “Listen to Jesus and When You’re ready – He’ll blow your freaking mind!”

If you haven’t had a sleepless night over vision, you haven’t had a vision from God - What keeps you up at night? What has God put in YOUR heart? If you haven’t found that yet — spend some time seeking God.

Great Question – What would you do for God if you knew you couldn’t fail? –> You’re a coward if you don’t. Scared? If you weren’t, God isn’t in it because you could  do it.

FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real - This helped me so much… reminded me of this post by Steven Furtick that changed my life. Why are we so afraid to step out?

“Don’t You Dare Give Up on a God Who’s Never Given Up On You!” – I think we all need to hear this on a daily basis. It’s always tempting to throw in the towel and quit, but we have a God who believes in us more than anyone else.

¹⁵He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. ¹⁶Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Mark 16:15, 16

Are We Reaching the World?

Notice the question wasn’t – are we reaching more Christians? I’m not even talking about the church at this point – that’s a whole other story. I’m talking about you and me…are we reaching people for God?  I got challenged like crazy at Catalyst in this area. Questions like this were asked of me:

• When people have a need, do they think of you as a means to helping them?
• Are you allowing people to belong (be a friend) before they have to believe?
• Do you like people who are only like you?
• Does everybody feel welcome around you?

After interning, serving, and working for a church for 6+ years, it is easy to get detached from the world. Since getting a job outside the church recently, I’ve realized there are a ton of people who don’t know God and are searching desperately for Him, and I’ve done a pretty good job at reaching Christians, but a pretty bad job at reaching the world.This has to change…

Here are some thoughts from Catalyst to make you think more about this subject…

• The church doesn’t exist for us, the church (we) exist for the world. -Erwin McManus

• Are we befriending people that are different than us? When is the last time you had a non-christian over your house for dinner? Hung out with them outside of church?

• You’ll never reach people until you draw people to you and earn the right to show them God in their life.

• Jesus first words: Come Follow me – Jesus Last Words: Go Make Disciples – we need to stop being so focused on ourselves and our spiritual growth and more focused on making disciples.
  

• We’re called to be traffic directors in Hell!- pointing everyone to Heaven
  

• You’re a miracle to somebody when you give them Jesus – Do you remember who led you to God?
  

• Small acts may not change the world, but they can tilt it to go in the right direction – There are millions of people everywhere that need encouraged, need to hear I see you, I believe in you, you matter!

How have you been doing with what Jesus told us to do? Going into the world (not the church) and making disciples…