Americans spend $billions on devices, pills, and programs that 'guarantee' weight loss. You know the ads - a serious, mature actor purporting to be a medical Dr. looks straight into the camera and asks, "do you want to melt away those pounds effortlessly?" As he talks images of smiling people, who claim to have lost 30 lbs while they slept, appear on the TV the screen. And, we want to believe that it is possible, even as our brain tells us that it's just another gimmick! In the newspaper last week the headline announced, "Low Carb Diet Now History." Seems that we like our bread after all. Another diet fad has come and gone, making an author a ton of money in the process.
The truth is that excess calories produce excess weight. If we are serious about controlling our weight, there are two things that must happen; better nutrition to control intake and more exercise to increase metabolism. Smaller portions of food that contain less fat and sugar, along with regular moderate exercise, will allow 98% of us to be healthy. No the results won't be instant, but if we are disciplined, it will happen. We know it, and yet, we continue to chase the fantasy that we can eat ice cream every night while we avoid breaking into a sweat at all costs, and still stay healthy and trim by taking a miracle pill!
Christianity is subject to the same 'hucksterism' as the diet industry. The desire for quick and easy results causes Believers to buy the latest book that promises spiritual maturity in 90 days, if we say or do or think in some formulaic way. Testimonies from those who have 'found it to be true,' are capsulated in italics on the cover urging us to "step up to a transformed life today!" But, these easy steps to spiritual maturity only produce disappointment and disillusionment in discouraged Believers who think that the fault must lie with them when the promised results do not emerge.
Solid, mature, and deep spiritual life is built by consistent, daily practices of disciplines that open up our hearts and mind to the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit. If we spend five minutes a day of reading the Bible and match that with 3 hours of programs like "Desperate Housewives," which beat sensuality and materialism into our brain, what values will influence our choices? The answer is obvious. We will not know the voice of God if we try to sandwich our prayer and meditation into a couple of minutes here and there in our busy day. Intimacy with God, and the true spiritual power and authority that accompanies it, comes only as we follow Him, faithfully and obediently, day by day, choice by choice. Spiritual diets are the same as physical ones - if we feed on the Word and exercise our faith; spiritual health will inevitably follow.
Peter, that unstable disciple who earned so many rebukes from Jesus but who grew into the Spirit and become a rock in the Church, tells us --As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.
So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better. Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:2-8, NLT)
Don't misunderstand what I am urging you to consider today. I am not suggesting that we can produce a life that is pleasing to God by our own strength or ability. I've tried and I've failed, as have billions of good, religious people. It is Jesus Christ and the 'mighty power' of the Spirit that work in us. Yet, we must 'make every effort!' Paul tells us to "put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;" (Ephesians 4:22, NIV) and to "put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:24, NIV) God provides us with the new clothes, but gives us the choice to wear them!
Do you want to be holy, full of God's Spirit, living in love, filled with joy, peaceful in a tense world, marked by patient endurance, good and kind? Then start by telling God of your desire! Pray, yes, in your own earnest words, describing your struggles. Pick up the Scripture and read the story of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John until you have 'seen' Him in His true beauty, and then invite the Holy Spirit to begin the process of transforming you into His likeness. When you fail, and we all do, get up and thank Him for forgiveness. As He brings you face to face with your sins, make no excuse for them and endure the processes, often painful, that produce deep change of heart and mind.
And the beauty of Jesus will emerge because God is faithful. No, there is no quick and easy way of genuine discipleship. But there is life for the asking and strength for the taking that will let us live for God's glory today!
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All Your Promises
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name.
Your words are true, Your mercy does not change.
All Your promises are precious, reviving our faith.
Every one of them will be fulfilled one day.
We will run, we will run and not grow weary.
We will rise upon the eagle's wings.
In the presence of the Lord, our spirits will soar,
'Till we one day gaze upon our King.
Oh; all Your promises are "Yes" and "Amen" in Jesus.
All Your promises are true.All Your promises are "Yes" and "Amen!"
Lord Jesus, we'll keep running after You.
Author: Smith, Andrew
Copyright: 1995 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055
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