Remembering The Scriptures...
Matthew 5:19 - "Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven..."
Here are my thoughts on this passage: most of us want to do great things for God with our lives. Most of us are not content with just living out the next 50 years without leaving our mark for God’s Kingdom on the earth with the life we have been given. But the more we do for God, and the more responsibilities we take on in life and the more relationships we obtain, etc…causes life to become busy….and as that happens – something has to give ...we get to the point where we have to “relax” in something…
This is my concern; is that we will become “relaxed” in the areas that we really should be strengthening. We don’t relax in our jobs, or our golf game, or any area that would be considered busy. Instead, we tend to relax more at becoming the teachings of scripture. We stop taking the light of God’s Word and looking into the darkness of our hearts. Instead of spending time reading scripture and allowing God to convict sin, we read a 30 second devotional and think we are good for the day. Not that 30 second devotionals are bad, but I don’t think you can be sustained on a regular basis spiritually [I am not downing on short Bible readings. I once taught a Sunday School class that implimented "The 3 Minute Bible"....and I am a working adult with children....so I know where you are coming from...but we need more than 3 minutes].
I have heard a few stories this month about men / pastors whom I know personally and those whom churches I have visited that have fallen into adulterous relationships. 500 people congregations. 2000 people congregations. The churches are founded on truth and people are coming to know Jesus, yet thes men have struggled...what happened? I believe that these men got to a place of business and maybe burnout, and instead of relaxing in the area of doing less (even if it meant doing less ministry), I think they relaxed in continuing to allow scripture to convict them and shape them.
Hey, I love to read a good book. In fact, good books, bring so much life to me! Many times, God uses them to draw me closer to Him and His heart…..But I was at Barns and Nobles the other day just looking through the Christian section and there are so many books. And I think that we can spend so much time becoming more post-modern, post-Christian, more Emerging, praying all the different 8 step prayers – 14 steps to a better life, etc…and yet in the midst of gaining all this knowledge we lose the simplicity that is in Christ – we can become more lax in becoming like Jesus – “…we gain the whole world & yet lose our own soul.”….
Here are my thoughts on this passage: most of us want to do great things for God with our lives. Most of us are not content with just living out the next 50 years without leaving our mark for God’s Kingdom on the earth with the life we have been given. But the more we do for God, and the more responsibilities we take on in life and the more relationships we obtain, etc…causes life to become busy….and as that happens – something has to give ...we get to the point where we have to “relax” in something…
This is my concern; is that we will become “relaxed” in the areas that we really should be strengthening. We don’t relax in our jobs, or our golf game, or any area that would be considered busy. Instead, we tend to relax more at becoming the teachings of scripture. We stop taking the light of God’s Word and looking into the darkness of our hearts. Instead of spending time reading scripture and allowing God to convict sin, we read a 30 second devotional and think we are good for the day. Not that 30 second devotionals are bad, but I don’t think you can be sustained on a regular basis spiritually [I am not downing on short Bible readings. I once taught a Sunday School class that implimented "The 3 Minute Bible"....and I am a working adult with children....so I know where you are coming from...but we need more than 3 minutes].
I have heard a few stories this month about men / pastors whom I know personally and those whom churches I have visited that have fallen into adulterous relationships. 500 people congregations. 2000 people congregations. The churches are founded on truth and people are coming to know Jesus, yet thes men have struggled...what happened? I believe that these men got to a place of business and maybe burnout, and instead of relaxing in the area of doing less (even if it meant doing less ministry), I think they relaxed in continuing to allow scripture to convict them and shape them.
Hey, I love to read a good book. In fact, good books, bring so much life to me! Many times, God uses them to draw me closer to Him and His heart…..But I was at Barns and Nobles the other day just looking through the Christian section and there are so many books. And I think that we can spend so much time becoming more post-modern, post-Christian, more Emerging, praying all the different 8 step prayers – 14 steps to a better life, etc…and yet in the midst of gaining all this knowledge we lose the simplicity that is in Christ – we can become more lax in becoming like Jesus – “…we gain the whole world & yet lose our own soul.”….
posted by A. Miller at
12:02 PM
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