We Christians get so caught up in our daily life, in our desires, needs, and ‘loves’. We have begun to live as though there were no God in Heaven. We have far more passion for our movies, our sports, and our clothes than the God we supposedly gave our life to. Then we have the audacity to wonder why we aren’t ‘on fire’ for God, why our prayers go ‘unanswered’, and why we cannot live victoriously. I wonder how we can expect to have passion for a God we spend no time with. How can we expect to live victoriously when God has been replaced by so many idols? We would never say that we have an idol replacing God but so often our lives show otherwise. We conveniently forget that there is far more to making God the most important factor in our lives than stating that He is. We hate to think that having passion for Christ demands far more from us than just asking for it. We don’t like to think about the fact that there is far more to Christianity than going to church and reading your Bible.
I am almost certain we know what lies in that ‘far more’. It scares us. We don’t want anything to do with it. I think the reason we don’t want to even remotely think about it is the fact that it demands the destruction of our most precious idol, that idol being ourselves. Passion has very little to do with our surroundings, our church, or our family. It has to do with you and me. It has to do with our destruction and God’s expansion. It means that God must increase and we must decrease. (John 3:30) We must willingly crawl onto an altar and ask God to destroy us.
There is no good thing in us. We are selfish, and cruel. How can we expect to become passionate for Christ if we are constantly feeding that part of our nature? How can we expect to further His Kingdom when we aren’t allowing Him to take over our lives on a daily basis? We like to think that we can still serve God without the destruction of our corrupt nature, and our sinful hearts. We have tried to convince ourselves that we can serve both ourselves and God but the fact is, it’s not even remotely possible. For there to be any good, any passion for Christ in us, we must recognize our greatest idol, ask for it’s destruction, and allow God to take over our lives. We must beg that this happens.
Asking God to destroy us is not a popular thought. It’s evident in our response to it. Our human nature loves to admired and comfortable. It’s evident in our culture, a culture that tells us we can have God and ourselves and still serve God effectively. It’s evident in the watered down Gospel that so many churches are preaching. But even if it’s not popular, the fact remains. Our walk with God, our growth as Christians, hinges on this, we must decrease, He must increase.
We must choose. Ourselves or God. We cannot serve both. Either option demands our ‘everything’. They each demand a passionate pursuit
Who will you choose?
6 comments:
That is so very true. I really needed to hear that. Thanks, Brit. Mike
have i ever told you how much you inspire me??? it seems like more often than not, you write about something I've just been thinking a lot about...and this is no exception. Thanks so-o much for not being afraid to share your thoughts!!! now THIS is a blog worth reading!! keep it up the writing...it's awesome. (you're gonna do GREAT at smbi!! you ARE going, right??)
love ya
sonya
(sry for the long comment(s))!!
Your hand held the pen, Jesus wrote the words!! Thanks Brit for the reminder.
Mariann
Wow, Brit, that is so very true and such a beautiful and inspiring thought! May God bless you!!! Lyd
ah Brit...thank you. I've read this several times and have kept it unread in Reader, as a reminder to myself. Who will I choose? You made me think, and that is a good thing. I thank you for being so straightforward and just telling the truth. I thank you so much dear...like Sonya said, thank you so much for not being afraid to share your thoughts! I agree.
Love you!
Brit, thank you again for allowing God to use you in this way. I really needed this reminder. I love you lots, Mom
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