 |
| http://www.flickr.com/photos/_belial/2590016706/ |
Ok let’s admit it. It happens to us all; we all get stale in
our faith, bored, worn out, stagnant. In today’s modern evangelical world it is
easy to get lost in so many well-meaning things and totally lose sight of what
we are really doing.
It happens to me from time to time. I can tell when it is
happening because I lose the satisfaction of serving, giving, studying, and
even praying. Everything then becomes an
obligation.
Why does this happen? This should not be our attitude as
believers right? I mean do we not remember who it is we’re serving? Well that
may be the problem at times, and I dare say most of the time.
Whenever we find ourselves in this place it is mostly
because we have lost the awe and wonder of who Christ is. Our eyes have lost
sight of His majesty and have instead embarked on some other spiritual journey
instead of seeking to know Christ.
This is how we end up in this place of dissatisfaction; when
programs, leadership status, titles, and so on take the place of the wonder and
awe of Christ. Now all those things are good in their place but everything out
of its place, though good, can become bad.
I just posted on Facebook the other day “Being a preacher is like framing a picture,
you're just trying to make Christ the focal point.” The problem so many
times is that we have moved the frame from centering on Christ and have made
the focal point other things and have diminished Christ to a footnote.
The book of Colossians has always been able to stir my heart
for the Lord. I can’t explain it fully but I think it has something to do with
how it frames Christ. Here read it for yourself;
“He is
the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all
things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through
him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold
together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”
(Colossians 1:15-18, ESV)
That in all things He might be preeminent, first, top, of
greatest importance. That everything was created by Him, the universe was
formed by HIS HANDS. Not only did he create it but HE HOLDS IT TOGETHER. All
matter is being held together by HIS power! Your chair is a chair right now by
HIS COMMAND.
Maybe that doesn’t stir you but I challenge you one night to
go outside under the night sky, away from the city lights, look at the stars
and recite those passages to yourself. Remind yourself of how big he is, how
powerful he is.
The old hymn was correct when it said “And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His
glory and grace.”
Nothing seems to matter a lot when you are blinded by the majesty
of Christ. Tribulations become just as the scriptures say, “a light momentary affliction” 2
Corthinians 4:17. No other endeavor is as attractive. Nothing else holds power
over us. When we gaze into His awesomeness we experience freedom to the utmost.
So are you burnt out? Do you feel worn out? Tired? Lost in
your faith? Lacking excitement and zeal?
Step back from every pursuit you have. Leave every frustration behind. Adjust your eyes to once again gaze upon the beauty of Christ and watch the Spirit renew you and fill you with fresh strength and vision. That is my prayer for you today my friends.
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/_belial/2590016706/">c@rljones</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">cc</a>
0 comments:
Post a Comment