As David, Mike & I ran errands today, a song by Matthew West came on the radio. While I know the song well and have listened to it many times, Today was different. The lyrics state, 'I don't wanna go through the motions. I don't wanna go one more day without Your all consuming passion inside of me.
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking, "What if I had given everything, instead of going through the motions?"' I began to think a lot about these lines and how sad it is that so many times, so many people go through the motions day after day and especially on Sundays. Have you ever thought about it? About how many people go to church because it is what they are supposed to do, like they are trying to convince God they are 'ok' and serving Him. Truth be know, many people are and actually have no 'all consuming passion' for the Lord or for reaching anyone around them. It goes back to that ritualistic/legalistic idea I have mentioned in previous posts. People try to convince themselves, others around them,and even God that they are 'glory-halli-gush-gush-get down-get back up for Jesus-marching through hell with a water pistol' kind of living. However, they are so entrenched in the ritual of 'being a Christian' that they are missing the mark. I don't want to be like that. I truly want to and strive to be a person who gives everything instead of just going through the motions. If we just go through the motions, we will one day give an account of all of the empty words and good intentions. Going though the motions often satisfies one's conscience and leads others around one to believe that one is uber spiritual, but will not be worth much when the trumpet sounds. Don't you want what you do to remain after the fire which tests our works/deeds? (1Corinthians 3:13) I want to be able to enter heaven with more than my salvation. I don't want to simply go through the motions, pleasing myself and my critics, but I want to please my Lord by reaching as many as possible. This means I must go into the highways and hedges, be compassionate, and real. Won't you do the same?
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking, "What if I had given everything, instead of going through the motions?"' I began to think a lot about these lines and how sad it is that so many times, so many people go through the motions day after day and especially on Sundays. Have you ever thought about it? About how many people go to church because it is what they are supposed to do, like they are trying to convince God they are 'ok' and serving Him. Truth be know, many people are and actually have no 'all consuming passion' for the Lord or for reaching anyone around them. It goes back to that ritualistic/legalistic idea I have mentioned in previous posts. People try to convince themselves, others around them,and even God that they are 'glory-halli-gush-gush-get down-get back up for Jesus-marching through hell with a water pistol' kind of living. However, they are so entrenched in the ritual of 'being a Christian' that they are missing the mark. I don't want to be like that. I truly want to and strive to be a person who gives everything instead of just going through the motions. If we just go through the motions, we will one day give an account of all of the empty words and good intentions. Going though the motions often satisfies one's conscience and leads others around one to believe that one is uber spiritual, but will not be worth much when the trumpet sounds. Don't you want what you do to remain after the fire which tests our works/deeds? (1Corinthians 3:13) I want to be able to enter heaven with more than my salvation. I don't want to simply go through the motions, pleasing myself and my critics, but I want to please my Lord by reaching as many as possible. This means I must go into the highways and hedges, be compassionate, and real. Won't you do the same?