I felt challenged by THIS from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers today!
The Spiritual Sluggard
Let us consider one another to
provoke unto love and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together. — Hebrews 10:24-25
We are all capable of being
spiritual sluggards; we do not want to mix with the rough and tumble of life as
it is, our one object is to secure retirement. The note struck in Hebrews 10 is
that of provoking one another and of keeping together — both of which require
initiative, the initiative of Christ-realisation, not of self-realisation. To
live a remote, retired, secluded life is the antipodes of spirituality as Jesus
Christ taught it.
The test of our spirituality
comes when we come up against injustice and meanness and ingratitude and
turmoil, all of which have the tendency to make us spiritual sluggards. We want
to use prayer and Bible reading for the purpose of retirement. We utilise God
for the sake of getting peace and joy, that is, we do not want to realise Jesus
Christ, but only our enjoyment of Him. This is the first step in the wrong
direction. All these things are effects and we try to make them causes.
“I think it meet,” said Peter,
“…to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.” It is a most disturbing thing
to be smitten in the ribs by some provoker of God, by someone who is full of
spiritual activity. Active work and spiritual activity are not the same thing.
Active work may be the counterfeit of spiritual activity. The danger of
spiritual sluggishness is that we do not wish to be stirred up, all we want to
hear about is spiritual retirement. Jesus Christ never encourages the idea of
retirement — “Go tell My brethren.…”
10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
BUT, that does NOT mean that we are to sit around with our feet up doing nothing! We should be starting every day with thanksgiving, praise and worship! Then with prayer, both in the Spirit and in our known language, for others, leaders, our families and anyone else that Holy Spirit directs! Then we should be in a constant state of readiness to go or to do as Holy Spirit leads as part of our own personal Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5)! This life is so very short in the light of eternity. Let's make every second count! BE the LIGHT that someone still caught in the darkness is waiting for! Here is Hillsong with "Children of the Light":
Shalom in Him!
