(posted : Tuesday Aug 10, 2010)
I am sure that you have never uttered those words out loud, and certainly not to a pastor, deacon or Sunday School teacher. But most of us have thought those words. We think that if we have made it to church AND Sunday School 3 out of 5 weeks, then we are pretty good with God, and there is no need for us to dig in deeper. After all, we don't want to be a "fanatic" or anything. Let me share a few points to help you out if this is how you think:
I am sure that you have never uttered those words out loud, and certainly not to a pastor, deacon or Sunday School teacher. But most of us have thought those words. We think that if we have made it to church AND Sunday School 3 out of 5 weeks, then we are pretty good with God, and there is no need for us to dig in deeper. After all, we don't want to be a "fanatic" or anything. Let me share a few points to help you out if this is how you think:
1. You Are Wrong.
I could elaborate, but I think the point speaks for itself.
2. Jesus' Example
If we look at the life of Jesus, we see first of all His knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures. Now, I know you are thinking, "Brad, he was the author of the Old Testament, so of course He knew it." That is true. However, being a good Jewish boy, He would have gone through much training and memorizing of the Scriptures. Secondly, we often see a passage where Jesus goes off by Himself to pray. This was done for two reasons. First of all, He needed to pray. He needed daily interaction with God the Father. Secondly, He was showing us an example. If Jesus took time to pray, how much more do I need to take time to pray?
3. The Psalmist
David shared this: "O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
4 So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
6 When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
7 For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.
9 But those who seek my life to destroy it,
Will go into the depths of the earth.
10 They will be delivered over to the power of the sword;
They will be a prey for foxes.
11 But the king will rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him will glory,
For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped." Psalm 63
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
4 So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
6 When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
7 For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.
9 But those who seek my life to destroy it,
Will go into the depths of the earth.
10 They will be delivered over to the power of the sword;
They will be a prey for foxes.
11 But the king will rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him will glory,
For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped." Psalm 63
In this Psalm, David talks of seeking God earnestly, his soul thirsting for God, his flesh yearning for God, meditating on God while in bed and his soul clinging to God. I can guarantee you that David wasn't waiting for Sunday School to satisfy this desire.
4. Not Religion
If you are a Christian, believer, Jesus follower, saved - however you want to say it - then we don't have a religion. We have a relationship with Almighty God through Jesus Christ. In any religion, you have to do things because it is required. In any relationship, you do things because it is your desire! Why do I listen to my wife? Because I love her, and I want to know her, know what's on her mind and know what makes her tick. Why do I talk to my wife? So she can know me, and know what I am thinking. That is how any relationship works. Reading the Bible is God speaking to us. Prayer is us speaking to God.
5. It's Not Facebook
If you are like me, then you have friends on Facebook that occasionally you will say something to, but it isn't everyday. In the world of social networking, that is acceptable. In fact, you don't ever have to comment on your friends stuff, or even hit the "like" button if you don't want. But that isn't how it is with God. God desires an intimate, personal relationship with each of us, and that can only be attained through prayer and reading the Bible. Don't think that just because you and God have "friend status" that you are all set. That is only the beginning.
6. You're Not Really That Busy
If we are all honest, we are not too busy for God. We just choose to shut Him out of our lives. That is a bad choice. In truth, I am too busy to not have a quiet time. I need God's Word in my life to help me to make right decisions. I need an active, vibrant prayer life so that I am in constant communication with the Father. And the times that I don't make time for my Quiet Time....well, those are the times that I am more vulnerable to temptation. I can really tell when I haven't been making time for God. And it isn't a good thing.
P.S. Since 1998, I have been using the Word of Life Quiet Time Diary (available at www.wolstore.org). However, that is just the spring board. There should always be additional study, and a constant growth to your Biblical input. Items like "Open Windows" "Our Daily Bread" "My Utmost For His Highest" "His Parables" and countless other devotionals are great to use. Also, reading through the Gospels, or the Old or New Testament or even the Bible in a year is a great idea. www.youversion.com has great resources for helping you to plan your Bible reading. I also listen to several sermon podcasts each week to supplement my personal Bible study and my Pastor's sermons.
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