I wasn't raised in church. I got saved a little later on in life. But, I've been in the church now for a few years. Long enough to know what is acceptable, what is frowned upon, and how a Christian is supposed to look.
Because I was older when I became a Christian, I remember what it was like to try and really live out what I believed. I wanted my life to mirror my new beliefs. I was getting to know God. I believed He was real and I wanted others to see that in my walk.
The longer I've been a Christian, serving in the church, the easier it has gotten. The things I struggled with in the beginning, aren't the same things I struggle with now. In the beginning, it was the 'petty' stuff.. judging, cussing, being mean. As time goes on, I've appeared to master those 'silly' things I once struggled with as a mere baby Christian.
I was really thinking about this today.. Just remembering the beginning steps of my relationship with God and comparing them to where I'm at now. I was just innocently having this nice reminiscing session when God pulled the rug out from under me.
I really had such a passion and zeal for God when I was first saved. I knew that He was real. You couldn't convince me any different. My heart and spirit knew it to be true. My behavior was what took a little bit longer to get the memo. I look at my life and the lives of so many people around me and I believe we've now got it backwards.
We went from striving to live what we believed to simply trying to believe what we live.
For me, I really had a hard time swallowing this concept today. Sometimes, I go through the motions. I know what I'm supposed to be doing as a Christian, so I do just that. I look the part, but do I still believe in God the same way I did in the beginning? Do I really believe prayer works? That God can heal? That He hears us when we pray? Has my knowledge of who He is deepened? Or has it been overtaken with the tedious religious actions I know that I am supposed to be doing?
If we were all honest, I wonder how many of us are in this boat? Do you really and truly believe everything your life may portray that you believe? This world needs real Christians.
Not just Christians that look like 'Christians'. But people who really, to the core of their being, believe God is who He says He is. That He is sovereign and holy. That He loves, and heals, and forgives. That He's righteous and fair. That He is real. That He wants you and me.
PLEASE.. instead of just living what we believe, lets really believe what we live.
Love, Meg
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