Daily Devotional for Wednesday, April 15, 2009 Have you missed any of our devotionals? Remember they can be found in the Archive section of our Website
http://www.gospelines.com "Why Are Some Christians So Boring?" "I'm bored!" announced my thirteen year old son loudly. We were only 7 hours into our 14 hour trip to Disney World. It was time for Dad to do something that would make things more entertaining. So we played all the car games I had played when I was a kid in less than an hour, and Danny didn't care about reading a book. With all the wisdom I could muster, I said "Project yourself into the future. Think about how much fun you will have tomorrow at Disney World. All the rides, the Disney characters you will see... Epcot Center!" That didn't work. So we were miserable for the next six hours. Why is it so difficult to project into the future and be satisfied NOW because we anticipate the rewards that will come later? Many Christians have the same problem today. Why are so many Christians bored? Why are they behaving in such a boring manner? Why are churches so dull, behaving as though we have little to celebrate? We aren't satisfied with the here-and-now because we haven't fully appreciated the reward that is going to be ours in the future! Our world has spoiled us to thinking we have to be entertained and we've lost a lot of our ability to find fulfillment without some spectacular external stimulus. That unfulfilled need carries over to the church as well. In some places, worship has become a "production" in order to entice our entertainment addicted society to attend the services. And just when we think we've got it right, another church finds a new wrinkle that is just a little more glamorous than what we are doing so we rush to produce something else that is more exciting than our competitor. Beloved, star-studded worship services aren't going to solve the problem. Lloyd Ogilvie said in his book, Ask Him Anything, "The cutting edge of the gospel has been dulled with impersonal preaching and teaching. People's deepest needs are unmet and what's said and done is often irrelevant to the real issues of living in the real world. The great wonder is that we put up with it." In a message preached at Times Square Church, New York City, David Wilkerson said, "In thousands of churches there is never any mention of sin, the Cross, sacrifice, judgment or hell. Godly watchmen aren't allowed to speak, and there is no stirring of hearts. Instead, the whole focus is on success, with every sermon designed to make people feel good. Think about all the prosperity preaching in the church today. This self-serving, get-rich gospel and the competitive church system that promotes it are now under the Ichabod anathema. It's all cursed and dead, and soon we'll see God do what He said He would do to Israel: 'I will make this house like Shiloh.' He's going to cut down the money tree, and a great spoiling will follow. All the hireling shepherds are going to face bankruptcy, and overnight their massive church programs will be gone." To the godly Christians seeking an authentic word from the Bible, church has become boring! There is something we can do about that. When a thirteen year old is bored while on a 14 hour car trip, I want to shout, "Grow up!" That same advice could be a part of the menu today! Think about this: list of 1 items 1. The reason for our boredom is that we bypass our real needs. Faith becomes dull when we do not allow Christ to indwell every fiber of our existence. list end list of 1 items 2. We have lost our excitement about spiritual things because we have forgotten to listen to what God is telling us. The mind that is alive to new Truth from God's Word everyday won't need any more excitement than that. list end list of 1 items 3. A bored Christian is usually not involved in deep fellowship with other believers. Ogilvie said, "Dullness is a sure sign that we are trying to go it alone." list end list of 1 items 4. Faith becomes boring when we stop communicating to others about the love of the Lord. list end Ask God to abide in you! Invite Him to take an inventory of every aspect of your life and give Him first place. Then you will become the exciting Christian God has called you to be! Amen and amen. O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [email protected] or [email protected] window live messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
