Continuing Michael's message, He reminds us that the causal Christian struggles with the lust
of the flesh and they have problems with their relationship with their spouse,
but they say that they don't need counseling. They complain that their
spouse doesn't accept them for who they are. They resent that their
spouse spends most of their time trying to change them. They think that the
other is the problem. They never pray with them or for them. They’ve
been to retreats and church conferences, but cannot understand the meaning of
grace. They know that they don't pray enough, give enough, serve enough,
or love enough. They think that others have their acts together but know
that they do not. They even question their own salvation. They spend
most of their time in sin management instead of living in Gods grace, mercy,
and love.
The casual Christian is fearful
of sharing their faith because they’re not sure how... and they’re not
even convinced of their own salvation. They’re afraid of praying in public
and sharing in a bible study discussion. Even deacons and elders in the
some churches feel inadequate, ignorant, lonely, fearful and isolated. The casual
Christian will refuse to come to a Christian small group. They don't have
time to cultivate true friendships so they keep their relationships casual. They
find their identity in their works. Their motto is "I am what I do."
They’ve bought into the culture's definition of being a mature adult. They
pride themselves on their bank account, their accomplishments, their
possessions and their worldly successes. They don't know how to work out their
own salvation in their family and in the marketplace.
The question to ask
ourselves as Christians is, "If every person were like me, would we win
the spiritual battle?" We live in a culture that thinks that prayer
doesn't belong in schools and public places; that we should keep our
"religion" to ourselves. Some churches won't allow us to quote
scripture in marriage classes where it says, "Wives submit yourselves to your own husbands in the Lord." As
in the days of Noah, there's a flood coming. When Noah warned the people
of the impending flood, the people laughed, mocked, and went about their
business as usual. Noah was faithful for one hundred years to warn them
that the flood would take away their families, their homes, their businesses,
and their own lives. Then when the flood finally came, they didn't know
what hit them.
The question is, "How
are we as Christians different from the culture around us?" When we
Christians fellowship together and isolate ourselves from the world, how can we
change the world? Do we have a form
of godliness while we deny the power thereof? As the Apostle Paul
said, our challenge is to "work your
our own salvation with fear and trembling...with respect and reverence. For it is God who works in you to will and
to do of his good pleasure."
We meet with like-minded Christians
so that we can pursue of their Lord Jesus Christ. As we walk in the light
as He is in the light, we shall have fellowship with Christ, our brother, with
our Heavenly Father, and with one another in the household of faith. We
link with like-minded brethren so that we can give it away. The Lord called
us to deliver the message of salvation, but more importantly He called us to be
the message, for we are God's love letters, His living epistles known and read
of all men and women. Then we can "stand fast immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord inasmuch
as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
And as we follow in the
footsteps of our Lord, may we ever live to the praise of the glory of His
grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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