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Christ's Love Has Moved Me to Extremes

Dr. Alan Lyke shared a devotional message at last week’s NBC Prayer Chapel. The apostle Paul had challenges when he became a missionary. Why would he pursue ministry when he ended up in the ocean, in prison, and other trials in-between? What was behind his devotion? The scripture gives the answer…

“It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming. But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions.

Sooner or later we'll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what's coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad. That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure. It's no light thing to know that we'll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That's why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God. God alone knows how well we do this, but I hope you realize how much and deeply we care . . .

If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you.  Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.  He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.” (2 Corinthians 5:5-15, The Message)

NBC has gone through transition and is still going through transition. The one thing that we can be assured of is that we will all have stories to tell. Perhaps others ask you, why would you invest yourself in this way? We share common experiences with Paul.

We trust in what we don’t see yet. We cheerfully please God. That is what we aim to do regardless of our conditions. NBC is preparing students giving them tools to get them ready to face God and life in ministry.

“If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.”

Sometimes we do crazy things. When you act crazy, do it for God. Paul’s yes to God, renews our yes.

Here you can listen to the full chapel devotional.

Notes taken from Dr. Alan D. Lyke's NBC Chapel on June 9, 2021 - Vice President for Academic Affairs