A Heartfelt Confession
I grew up the son of a preacher man. I've heard stories of myself as a very young boy, going around shaking everyone's hand in my suit and tie, so to say I grew up in church is no exaggeration. Ever since I've been old enough to remember, I was taught God's word. I lovingly joke that as a preacher's kid, I received sermons every day of the week, not just on Sundays and Wednesdays. So, by the time I was converted at the age of 20, I had a treasure trove of biblical knowledge that I had been taught all my life.
I love the story in Matthew 15 where the woman basically told Jesus that even if she were a dog, she would gladly accept the crumbs from the Master's table. She came desperately but expectantly. I, unfortunately, resemble the disciples who, while blessed to be seated at that table, were satisfied and guilty of having little faith. I think there are times when we wake up to the realization that we are guilty of being satisfied with good gifts and forgetful of the Giver.
Somehow, over the last several generations, I believe we American evangelicals have morphed the Christian life into something that falls extremely short of the lived experience of the early church in the New Testament.
I love the story in Matthew 15 where the woman basically told Jesus that even if she were a dog, she would gladly accept the crumbs from the Master's table. She came desperately but expectantly. I, unfortunately, resemble the disciples who, while blessed to be seated at that table, were satisfied and guilty of having little faith. I think there are times when we wake up to the realization that we are guilty of being satisfied with good gifts and forgetful of the Giver.
Somehow, over the last several generations, I believe we American evangelicals have morphed the Christian life into something that falls extremely short of the lived experience of the early church in the New Testament.
I think there are times when we wake up to the realization that we are guilty of being satisfied with good gifts and forgetful of the Giver.
Have you ever been reading your Bible and come across the life of Paul or another saint of old and asked yourself, "I wish my life could be like that"? You probably weren't thinking of their trials or suffering. But when we look at their lives and then glance over our own, are we left with the sense that something is missing? The saints in the Bible seem to have a strength that has somehow evaded the church at large today.
Since the local church is only as strong as its members, it stands to reason that we, as individual Christians, have lost something vitally important. Without even realizing it, have we exchanged the biblical description of being a disciple of Jesus with keeping a list of religious expectations and filling in the blanks of biblical knowledge? No one would say this out loud, but it's almost as if we don't care if the content doesn't drastically change our lives over time, just as long as we are growing in some knowledge and checking off religious boxes, then we are doing our Christian duty. We do the best we can, just as we would do anything else, and then go day after day after day, just to wake up with the reality of going through the motions and no heavenly reality lingering in our daily lives. We say that we are walking with Jesus, but the dust on our Bibles grows thicker, and if we pray, we don't expect our requests to go any farther than our breath may take them.
Since the local church is only as strong as its members, it stands to reason that we, as individual Christians, have lost something vitally important. Without even realizing it, have we exchanged the biblical description of being a disciple of Jesus with keeping a list of religious expectations and filling in the blanks of biblical knowledge? No one would say this out loud, but it's almost as if we don't care if the content doesn't drastically change our lives over time, just as long as we are growing in some knowledge and checking off religious boxes, then we are doing our Christian duty. We do the best we can, just as we would do anything else, and then go day after day after day, just to wake up with the reality of going through the motions and no heavenly reality lingering in our daily lives. We say that we are walking with Jesus, but the dust on our Bibles grows thicker, and if we pray, we don't expect our requests to go any farther than our breath may take them.
It's almost as if we don't care if the content doesn't drastically change our lives over time, just as long as we are growing in some knowledge and checking off religious boxes, then we are doing our Christian duty.
After being saved for almost 20 years now, I can tell you that I have learned a very valuable lesson that all of us as born-again believers must learn. This lesson is that there is a difference between religion and relationship. Is it important for us to grow in our knowledge of God's word? Of course. But what good is it if it just stays between your ears and never finds its way to your heart, to where it changes you inside and out? It would be like a married couple who only speak to each other if necessary and don't spend much time together, waking up one day and being very unsatisfied with their marriage. But friend, is this what you and I do to our Savior? We may do a bunch of religious things and think we are walking with Jesus, but are we experiencing Him in our lives as we would experience any other human relationship?
Are Christians new creatures? Yes. Do we have a new man? Yes. Has our criminal record been made clean by the blood of Christ? Yes. Are we perfect immediately after being born again? No. As the old song goes, "He is still working on me" because I don't automatically act like Jesus all the time. Even though my heart has been changed and I will never be the same, my flesh must be reprogrammed.
"For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God." - Romans 8:6-8 (NKJV)
Oh, brother and sister, we cannot afford to let the devil ensnare us to go about our daily lives like the rest of the world; so busy doing this and going there and working a job that can hopefully provide for our families and grabbing our piece of the American Dream. This is a worldly mindset that cannot please God. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, I believe, really makes this as plain as possible.
"And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?" - 1 Cor. 3:1-3 (NKJV)
I guarantee someone has thought, "If only they could be taught by Paul, then they would be a better Christian," but even under Paul’s ministry, there were ones who he wished could grow more, but they seemed to not have the ability to do so. Why? Because they were too carnal. Now you can substitute the word carnal for flesh, and maybe it will start to make sense. There must come a time in the lives of the believer where we must, with intention and perseverance, take God's sharp sword and put to death our flesh. Maybe the fact is that we spend so much energy trying to be comfortable and have smooth sailing in our lives that we are never able to let ourselves feel the desperation that would drive us to wrestle with God as Jacob of old. I want to be liked and have as few problems as anyone else may, but if that causes us to never take a stand for Christ, then we will fall for anything the world dangles in front of us.
Are Christians new creatures? Yes. Do we have a new man? Yes. Has our criminal record been made clean by the blood of Christ? Yes. Are we perfect immediately after being born again? No. As the old song goes, "He is still working on me" because I don't automatically act like Jesus all the time. Even though my heart has been changed and I will never be the same, my flesh must be reprogrammed.
"For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God." - Romans 8:6-8 (NKJV)
Oh, brother and sister, we cannot afford to let the devil ensnare us to go about our daily lives like the rest of the world; so busy doing this and going there and working a job that can hopefully provide for our families and grabbing our piece of the American Dream. This is a worldly mindset that cannot please God. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, I believe, really makes this as plain as possible.
"And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?" - 1 Cor. 3:1-3 (NKJV)
I guarantee someone has thought, "If only they could be taught by Paul, then they would be a better Christian," but even under Paul’s ministry, there were ones who he wished could grow more, but they seemed to not have the ability to do so. Why? Because they were too carnal. Now you can substitute the word carnal for flesh, and maybe it will start to make sense. There must come a time in the lives of the believer where we must, with intention and perseverance, take God's sharp sword and put to death our flesh. Maybe the fact is that we spend so much energy trying to be comfortable and have smooth sailing in our lives that we are never able to let ourselves feel the desperation that would drive us to wrestle with God as Jacob of old. I want to be liked and have as few problems as anyone else may, but if that causes us to never take a stand for Christ, then we will fall for anything the world dangles in front of us.
But what good is it if it just stays between your ears and never finds its way to your heart, to where it changes you inside and out? There must come a time in the lives of the believer where we must, with intention and perseverance, take God's sharp sword and put to death our flesh.
"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." - Galatians 5:16-17 (NKJV)
Oh, brother and sister, it is time for us to listen to the rumbling of our souls that desires to grow up spiritually speaking. To see God move in our lives and in our churches with power to the saving of lost souls and the perfecting of the saints. It's time that we turn the TV off, put the phone down, clear out the rooms of our hearts filled with entertainment, hobbies, and frivolous things galore, and throw them away so that Christ may have more room. May He increase, not just solely for the eternity of those we see every day, but just as a husband and wife grow in the depths of their love for one another. May we increasingly want Christ Himself more. May He be the treasure that we sell all to obtain. Do not settle for just forgiveness of sin and the promise of eternity one day! You were made to live for more.
Oh, brother and sister, it is time for us to listen to the rumbling of our souls that desires to grow up spiritually speaking. To see God move in our lives and in our churches with power to the saving of lost souls and the perfecting of the saints. It's time that we turn the TV off, put the phone down, clear out the rooms of our hearts filled with entertainment, hobbies, and frivolous things galore, and throw them away so that Christ may have more room. May He increase, not just solely for the eternity of those we see every day, but just as a husband and wife grow in the depths of their love for one another. May we increasingly want Christ Himself more. May He be the treasure that we sell all to obtain. Do not settle for just forgiveness of sin and the promise of eternity one day! You were made to live for more.
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