Summer seems to be a time that distraction can pull us away from the Lord. I was thinking about that and the words from the Castling Crown's song were in my head... "its a slow fade".... how easy it is to let distraction creep in as we slowly fade from the freshness of our first love in Christ.
There is a great book about part of the cause of distraction entitled, "The Enemy Within" by Kris Lundgaard. On page 88... the author says a lazy soul realizes he'll never be perfect, so he says "why bother?" It made me reflect on how much of our distraction is rooted in that lazyness of soul.... and how can I encourage myself and others around me to BOTHER!
God's word says we are either moving closer to Jesus or away from him. When we don't engage the flesh in battle, we fall farther and farther from Jesus. The parable Jesus told about the 10 Bridesmaids (Mt. 25) makes a strong case of the need to be aggressive in our pursuit of righteousness. The five maidens who 'did not bother' keeping their lamps trimmed and preparing for their groom's return were called fools and left outside of the banquet. His words to them are chilling: "I tell you the truth, I do not know you." "Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.'
There have been seasons that my flesh was reigning in me to the point that it could be described by Proverbs 26:15 "the sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it to his mouth." why bother....
So, how can we encourage one another to break through that barrier of spiritual slumber? What is the right motivation pull oneself out of a spiritual state where we just can't even lift our hands from the bowl to feed our spiritual souls?
Well, frankly, we cannot do this on our own... we need to start with personal confession to ask Jesus, who even overcame the sins of spiritual laziness, to grant us his gift of repentance and draw us to him. Then, we need to be sober and alert to the battle inside... but there is also a very subtle battle that is going on around us (outside).... and we need to be alert to that as well.
We live in America. It's a free and affluent country....even in recession times, we have so much more than so many in the world. While there are many blessings in the affluence... as believers we should OPEN OUR EYES to the curse of freedom and wealth. It gives us choices that can lead us on paths that put us to sleep! Wealth can distract us so much that we begin to feel like "we don't need a thing"! It numbs our soul like alchohol numbs our body. And, it blinds us to our spiritual condition... instead we want what others have - circumstances and stuff, we think we need to pursue other hobbies, education, postitions.... oh my, we can even pursue "Skinny Cow Deserts" and we can eat as many as we want! We are FREE.... and our freedom can be a CURSE. (not from God, per se, but a curse to our spirits!) We need to be sober and alert to this battle that slowly pulls us from our first love.... But don't just take me at my word... read Rev. 3:15-22 to see what Jesus said to the church of Laodecea below:
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."
Do you see what Jesus counsels that rich church to do? To buy Gold refined in the fire and white clothes to wear and salve to see. There is the motivation I was looking for.... so that i stop the pity party my flesh throws when I am being refined... and embrace the new white clothes of righteousness that the LORD is trying to get me to wear... as I repent from sins.... AND... for the salve he wants to give me to open my eyes so I am focused on the RIGHT things and number my days right... eternal things that will last. THAT IS WHY I NEED TO "BOTHER" hurray! thank you for that answer, Jesus.
But there is more... the most important motivation of all.... our goal and purpose for vehemently battling the flesh.... Jesus said it to Laodecea... he knocks on the door to our heart to wake us up and get us to be earnest and repent BECAUSE HE WANTS TO Dine with us... to take us out on on a date of intimacy with Him.... Your first LOVE and mine, Jesus Christ, shows us our motive to put away the misdeeds of the flesh.... to aggressively castrate the flesh... is LOVE for Him.
There is a quote on page 119 of 'The Enemy Within' that says, "The person who calls himself a Christian, who says he loves God, yet does not seek his company and delight in it, can't be a true lover of God. His own flesh has deceived him. If he doesn't daily give his heart to God and receive God's heart in return, if he doesn't daily renew his hatred of his own sin and his delight in God's mercy, he has no relationship with God."
That's the motive I was looking for.... the real reason to aggressively put my sin nature to death.... intimacy with Jesus! Not religious duties to make us feel good... not necessities that make us feel trapped... or must do's so our white robe is so starched we can't smile... its so we can walk with Him and dine with Him in the garden of his love.... that's what our Creator created us for.
Whew! Are you hungry?
