Fragile Obedience
I’ve been reminded in recent days how fragile obedience can be. I’ve heard again of friends who have fallen away from Christ–of leaders who have become “disqualified.” My heart aches. My anger rises up. The enemy relishes these kinds of victories and often uses them to win a few more on the fringe. Christ is “crucified again” and His name is dishonored among those who need to know Him most.
Choosing to sin doesn’t happen when you have a bad day. We don’t “fall into sin.” This isn’t some unfortunate accident. It occurs when you have failed to “guard your heart, for from it flow the springs of life,” Proverbs 4:23. We begin living for self rather than Christ when:
- Our relationship with God becomes a religion we practice
- Our study of the Word becomes a duty we perform
- Our service to Christ becomes a responsibility we carry out
- Our prayers to God becomes lists we address
- Our connections to fellow believers becomes activities devoid of authenticity
- Our giving in the plate becomes more platitude than gracious attitude
- Our free time becomes more ours than Christ’s
Do you get the idea? An authentic and inauthentic Christ-follower can look pretty much the same on the outside, but there’s a world of difference on the inside.
I love what Psalm 119:104-105 states:
104 Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. 105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
When I initially look at these verses, I consider how I can get the Bible into my mind, heart, and life. Yes — true. But it’s more. You see, this is the way GOD speaks to us most often. These are not ink splats on pages, but the living active life-changing voice of God. When we read the Word, we need to do more than get the information into our heads, but actually let God speak in order to transform our minds and hearts. This is miraculous stuff! This has the power to change lives! Every day!
When we become weak on the inside, it results with insane choices on the outside.
God wants to revolutionize your soul again today. He wants to destroy the sin nature and all of it’s opposition to God. He wants to make you strong in the Lord in and in the strength of His might. He wants to make us warriors who never defect to the other side simply because it’s easier.
Press on, brothers and sisters. Listen closely, obey completely, honor Christ unquestionably.
