Greetings, Dear Friends! Susie Larson here!
And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So leave a comment, share a story or insight, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend!
Now, on to my topic...
A while ago, our pastor asked us to read Revelations 2 and 3 and to ask ourselves, "What is the Spirit saying to our church?" I loved this assignment and I think it's a wise thing to do.
Something struck me during my devotional time. I read about the Church in Sardis. They had a reputation for being alive, but they were dead.
Reputation: A widespread belief or perception
How many churches, ministries, and people have a look of being successful but at their core (to borrow a phrase from 'The Princess Bride') they are mostly dead?
What a scary thought!
Verse 2 reads: Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
My NIV Study Notes offered this insight: Outwardly the (Church of Sardis) appeared spiritually alive and active and had a reputation of success. But Jesus saw the absence of the inner reality of Himself in the hearts of the people; he saw religion, not spiritual life.
What a wake up call for us!
Is there any area in your spiritual life that you've allowed to go on autopilot or that has become a rote practice, void of life?
The passage above advises us to strengthen what remains, to remember what we have received, to obey what God has asked us to do, and to repent of our sins.
How easy it is to go through the motions, to look good, but to bear little fruit! And yet, there's an answer for us. We are to strengthen ourselves in the Lord that we might know true peace, experience profound healing, and make a significant impact in our world. That we might bear real fruit. No more pretending. No more going through the motions. No more fake fruit.
When the Psalmist David was in one of the battles of his life, the Bible says that he 'strengthened himself in the Lord.' (See 1 Samuel 30:6)
I believe David simply reminded himself of God's greatness, His faithfulness, His promises, and His presence. I think David probably nourished his soul by telling himself that he was not alone and that he mattered to God.
While we still have today, may we abide in the Vine and receive the fresh life flowing from Him! May we refuse to live a 'religious' life; one that is absent of a fresh, thriving, and fruitful life. May everything we do be motivated by our love for God and be in response to His love.
When God looks upon His people, when He looks upon you and me, what does He find?
Does He find us striving in our strength? Pretending we’re something we’re not? Does He find us going through the spiritual motions and yet deeply motivated by our own selfish whims?
Or does He find our delight in Him? Does His heart swell with joy because we have put our trust in Him? Because we humbly wait for His direction in our lives?
May everything we do, be in response to His love.
Author John Ortburg's mentor once said to him, "The devil drives. The Shepherd leads."
It doesn’t matter how the world perceives you, whether you seem successfully huge or obscurely small. Jesus sees. Jesus knows. Whether in a hidden place or in a public one, may your faith-life thrive and grow because Jesus lives in and through you.
Let Him lead, and humbly follow. You'll find your strength in Him.
Until next week~