Church isn’t about me or you, it’s about Him. Jesus referred to Himself as the “I AM”. Not what you want Him to be, or the one made in your image. When we seek Him with all of our substance, we will find Him, His presence and His identity. Then we can find ourselves. The American culture designs church after our needs/wants. Most Christians will go to church if nothing better presents itself. Or if the important things in life are cancelled. In fact most people choose a church based upon convenience, the ‘most bang or our buck’ or feelings rather than truth. Church must fit into our schedule and time frame. Yet, God’s word says we must deny ourselves and our desires. It is sad to watch a culture that wants to mold God around their lives when God clearly says we must ‘put on Christ’. We must immerse ourselves into His presence and ways. God’s kingdom is inclusively exclusive. No one comes to the Father and into His kingdom except through following Jesus Christ. We morph God into a god who chases after us as if he is incomplete without us. He ‘is’! He is complete without us, yet loves us, wants us to follow Him, and have a close relationship with us. He commands His people and churches to be Holy and to live righteously. His death was for our sins, His resurrection is for us to be empowered by His grace to live a life he has called us to live. Yet, as the culture of church becomes less Biblical, the lies of the enemy become the truth. Soon any church that stands upon Biblical truth will be exchanged for a church that emphasizes human-centered truths and ‘convenience-christianity’ until convenience causes the culture to disregard church and God’s truth altogether!!! (Which we are headed toward currently!)
We live in a culture of tickling ears, going where the message edifies and empowers the flesh and worldly lifestyles. Hearts are growing cold to the truth and to submitting to His ways. Yet, are warming up to the world, its ways and its schedule. The schedule that drives people is one of indulgence and entertainment. One of desires that feed the lusts of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the prides of life. Stay true to a faith that drives your life to Jesus. Drives your life to design you and your families time and schedules to be centered upon God’s schedule, and not one that is convenient for you and your family. There is a cost of convenience and compromise that will steal, kill and destroy your family’s future. Many times we are blind to the symptoms and outcomes of these costs just like an alcoholic or the addict are to their habits. Don’t be another statistic, nor let your children be consumed by the things of this world by teaching them that entertainment, hobbies or habits are what drives our schedules. Our culture has parents that are blindly leading their children to hell because of the consumerism and indulgences of competition and busy-ness. Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and everything you will ever need will be added to your life.
My prayer is for the hearts and souls of the people who call themselves Christians to wake up and chase once again after their First Love – Jesus Christ. Spend their money to honor Him. Spend their time to honor Him. Set their schedules based upon Him. Live a life that honors Him. But there is a cost. The cost of not keeping up with the neighbors. The cost of not doing what every family is doing. The cost of our kids being told no and that God and His plans come first. But after the cost comes the results. Results of God fearing, God loving, God centered children that seek God with every decision. The result of children who make decisions based upon His truth and not activity, popularity and entertainment value. Results of children and families who are at peace and are filled with the presence of God and His characteristics. Results of our children and families who know who they are because they know who their God is! All of us parents are leading our children to something. We are training them to be God chasers or world chasers. Teaching them to be self-centered with our desires and schedules, or to be God-centered and seeking after His schedule for our life. Don’t be deceived, God is not mocked. Don’t say you’re a Christian and lead a life centered around business and worldly lusts for promotion, popularity, prestige, fame, fortune, identity, etc.
Don’t compromise the Truth! Don’t compromise your future! Don’t compromise your children’s future! Center your life and its schedule around God! Don’t fit Him in! Get to the place where you find to hard to fit the world and its pleasures into your life! Lay your schedule aside. Most of our schedules are based upon choices and desires/wants – NOT NEEDS! Learn to NEED Him more! Don’t lead a life absent of a desire to fill your time and needs with His presence and the presence of His family (the Church). Scripture says you can’t be committed to 2 masters. You will be a ‘house’ divided, and you and your family will fall apart.
Ask yourself: What drives my schedule? Is God and serving Him the main allotment of time on my schedule? Do I compromise a total devotion to Him by being driven by seeking entertainment and happiness? How do I spend my time and money? Or you may even have some other questions He brings to your mind!
Have a blessed week chasing after God, His Kingdom and His righteousness. See you at church or another God event this week!
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