I love Him | I love Him not

I have been reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan off and on now for the past several months. It isn’t a hard read or unworthy of anyone’s time, quite the contrary. I am being convicting, soul—stirred that I am only able to read sections at a time for my mind, heart, and soul to come together to compute. I want to hear God. I want to get it. I want God to change me. I want to grow in Christ. I want less of me and more of Him. That takes time; time that I don’t want to rush or interrupt.

Several months ago, I wrote a blog about “lukewarm Christians.” This topic still stirs my heart to its core. It brings a heaviness to my heart for two reasons. First, on a personal note, I don’t want to go there –I don’t want to entertain the notion nor give way to it in my relationship with God; secondly, the evidence is all around us in lives that have chosen such a lifestyle. Yes, sadly this evidence is rampant within our churches today. How can this be? How can a child of God choose so? This blows fuses in my brain but I cannot imagine what it does to God’s heart which is far more important than mine.

This we do know with certainty that Jesus’ call to us is crystal clear. Make no mistake about it. He wants all or nothing. There is no in between!

“The thought of a person calling himself a “Christian” without being a devoted follower of Christ is absurd” Chan wrote. I agree. Yet, I tread lightly here because I am no different. I am flesh and blood. I am saved by His amazing grace. I am His and He is mine, yet I am keenly aware that it is because of Christ that I am His in the first place, lest I boast in and of myself. My sinful nature screams just as loudly as everyone else’s. The same choice that has been given to you has been given to me; God or self. It is impossible to serve two masters.

I wonder (thinking out loud here) have we chosen to use “lukewarmness” as a tool. A tool for our own selfish ambitions; a tool to do what we want? An asset to use when we want, how we want, all the while claiming Christ, given into its temptational lure. Have we circum to the devil’s lies? Have we forsaken God?

Nothing makes satan more happier than to see a defeated Christian –they are the easy ones. The defeated Christian thinks they are in control yet all the while is being controlled, used as a pawn in the enemies frontline; they don’t even know it nor are they able to fight back.

1. We underestimate the power of our choices. Our choice reveals our truest colors: who we really are (our core). We may verbalize the words, even speak Scripture, but this one thing never changes: actions speak louder than words.
2. We underestimate the power of our choice in thinking we are not seen. You and I are seen: by God, by this world: our family, friends, and those we never knew were watching. Does this mean we ought to live in paranoia? By no means. Does this mean we must live in perfection on this side of Heaven? We know the answer to that question. What it does mean –be aware, be on spiritual guard, be watchful of our flesh –it rears its ugly head when it is not feasting daily on the Word. We neither live nor die to ourselves.

Commitment to Christ. He has committed everything –even to the point of death; taking our place for our payment of death to be able to be restored unto Himself. He did this for all mankind (John 3:16), but more intimately He did this for you. How are you responding to Christ? How are you displaying, expressing, or giving back to Christ? Is your heart filled with gratitude towards Him? If not, why not?

We get so edgy when ‘church talk’ turns the corner and words like “commitment” or “membership” become the topic. We will argue, fuss, feud, justify our tiredness or sickness, we use Scripture to prove our own standard of Christlikeness; yet we will not bat an eye to commit to or sign the dotted line to join the local discount food club, the gym, or the library.

Is Christ not worth more of our personal commitment than saving a buck at the local discount club?

• When we are not committed to Christ; when He is not valued, esteemed, honored, glorified, or reaching into every area of our life; if God is not seen as a priority above all else –this is what we say: (remember actions speak louder than words) “God, what I love, where my allegiance lies…it’s not you. Thanks for my salvation, but don’t ask me for anything more.”
• We would never speak such language aloud yet our actions betray us; Christ is not enough.

You’ve got to admit it –we are crafty creatures. When it comes right down to it, where there’s a will there’s a way –for both good and evil.

We find ways to justify ourselves, our actions, and we are simply okay with it. Never thinking that God is not okay with it.

To those who call themselves “believers” cannot follow their own course of actions while calling themselves followers of Christ. Jesus doesn’t. It’s an oxymoron.

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}