A friend of mine who co-teaches our small group with me got me thinking about a pretty profound idea . . .

Do you wish your life were making a bigger impact for God and His Kingdom?

If so, answer this question: Why isn’t it?

I have an idea. I don’t claim to speak for you. But I have observed enough Christ-followers to make an opinion. And, if I am being honest, I know why my life isn’t making as big an impact as it could be.

I believe the reason you and I don’t live as powerfully as we should can be boiled down to one simple idea: image.

I think we’re too concerned with image. We want people to think we have it all together. That we have all the answers. That we’re level headed. That we’re not over-zealous. That we are cool . . .

People who live impassioned lives for Christ can make others uncomfortable. They can be overly-excited. They can come across as small-minded or narrowly-focused. Let’s be honest: some of them can seem a little weird.

But here’s the deal. We’re called by Christ to live our lives in radical submission to Him. Regardless of what you think it means to be a “Christian,” Christ made it clear what it meant to Him.

Believe and repent.

Give over your life to advance His Kingdom while you are on this earth.

Think of the people in Scripture who stood up against the tide of culture and who sacrificed their image to do so . . . all for the sake of God.

Isaiah walked around nude for three years.

Ezekiel made a spectacle of himself in public.

Daniel risked everything for the sake of holiness.

Hosea married a prostitute.

John the Baptist lived in the desert and ate bugs.

The disciples went against every norm of their day’s leading religious culture. Paul subjected himself to beating and ridicule, making himself an enemy of his own people.

All of these men did so because God had called them to serve Him with their lives. They did so without regard for how they looked to the world around them. And all of them had an amazing impact for the Kingdom.

As you go throughout your day and your week, ask yourself this question: Do you care more about your image–about what others think of you–than you do about God’s Kingdom advancing in this world? Be honest with yourself . . .

If so, take this to God in prayer. Ask Him to give you the strength to overcome this weakness.

If not . . . Keep going. Keep hammering away. Keep living your life in bold expression of devotion to God. Give yourself over to living for Him. Don’t be afraid to completely sell out.

Live a life of radical surrender. Regardless of the cost.