One of the most dangerous places someone can find themselves in is a state of complacency. It’s hard to become a great athlete while settling as an average player. It’s hard to lose weight while being comfortable on the couch eating fast food. It’s even harder trying to trying to get a job without filling out a job application. The point is this, no one can become come great or experience something greater, while they continually settle in their current state. “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard”.
Woe to them that are at ease in Zion…. (Amos 6:1)
All of my previous examples were physical, but please, let’s take a quick spiritual look. How many of us claim we want a deeper relationship with God but spend little time with Him? How many of us want to know more about God, but we just do not read His Word for ourselves? Maybe you even want to hear God’s voice, but are you listening in prayer or just talking? You see, God is not running away from us, it’s just our actions aren’t always pursuing Him. God wants a relationship with us, but sometimes we are listening so much to people and focused on the world that we fail to hear God calling us. God knows you say you love Him, but do your actions prove it?
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (Matthew 15:8)
Now is the best time to make a decision that you are going to chase God. You may have failed yesterday and you will make a mistake again in the future, but now is the best time to recommit your life to pursuing God. God knows whether we love Him or not, because Jesus said it is our actions that proves whether or not we love Him (John 14:15). Our tweets, church attendance and Christian pictures mean nothing if we aren’t obeying God’s Word.
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)
Sunday isn’t the only day that God wants your worship. Let it be your lifestyle, not a weekend activity. We have to quit ignoring God because we want to watch our favorite show. We cannot keep listening to music that goes against His Word. Why should we even spend all of our time with people that push us away from Him? God is not a part-time saviour, so we shouldn’t be part-time Christians. I don’t expect everyone to just stay home and literally pray and read the Bible all day, but we should try to keep our minds on Jesus all day (Philippians 4:8). Wherever you go and whatever you do, do it so that God can get the glory (Colossians 3:17).
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 John 5:21)
Don’t let your social networks or technology replace God in your life. Don’t let your friends, spouse, etc. get more of your attention than Jesus. Stay away from things that consume way too much of your time. Christians aren’t always losing focus because of “sins”, but sometimes because of television. Too much of anything can ultimately distract you from what matters most, Jesus.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1)
Relationships: > Which one of you will love a relationship where the other person doesn’t communicate with you? If they never ask to go on dates, if they never seek your attention, or if they don’t even compliment you, you’d most likely assume that their priorities are elsewhere. Or am I exaggerating? Maybe not. > We all know that one “friend” who only remembers us when they want something…. So does Jesus. > In order to have more meaningful and healthy relationships, we all must listen more and talk less, pray more and fight less, apologize more and quit letting pride get the best of us. These same principles apply with God. Jesus wants our heart, not a “religious to-do list”. Pray? Check! Read some verses? Check! NO, how about simply being consumed with God so that everything we do revolves around Him?
Today is the best day to choose to seek God more in your life. Maybe 10 minutes more a day could allow God to work on your behalf. Maybe reading one more chapter a day could open your eyes to God’s will for your life. You may not understand it now, but studying God’s Word will both help you and those you come into contact with. Will you give Jesus more of your life today?
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6)
God deserves more time than Sunday.
– Tovares Grey
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