Monday, May 21, 2007

Living A Christian Life Of Convenience

Luke 10:31-32 "And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side."

How many of us would have stopped to help this man that needed some one's assistance? Would you have allowed yourself to be inconvenienced? I would like to say that I would have but I'm ashamed to admit that I'm not sure I would have. And if you're honest with yourself I'm sure you wouldn't have either. We get so caught up in our own lives that we tend to forget what we should be doing. God provides opportunities for us to serve Him every day and we tend to not do the things that inconvenience us.

We live in a day that is consumed with convenience. We have drive-thru restaurants where you can have your meal passed to you through your car window. There are drive-thru stores, car washes, some gas stations that have full-service, banks, wedding chapels and I have even heard of drive-thru funeral parlors where you can pay your respects without even having to get out of your car. There are drive-thru pharmacies and dry cleaners. You name it and there is probably a time-saving way of going about that task.

We have a sort of drive-thru religion in the Christian life as well. The priest and the Levite could not be bothered by the dire circumstances of the "certain man". When is the last time you allowed yourself with a good attitude and a sweet spirit to be inconvenienced by that person calling at the last minute for a ride to church or to go to a home that is ten miles out of your way so they can come to hear the gospel preached? When the pastor speaks of a need in the church (whether it be a position or some other service such as taking meals to one that is sick or making a phone call to someone who has missed church) how many of us are willing to be inconvenienced and go the extra mile for the Lord in that person's life? Our church services may still be held in the sanctuary but many of us haven't turned the car engine off in our minds and we're just "driving thru" or going through the motions. Sometimes our minds are on the meal we will be having after the service or the baseball or football game that is coming on while we are supposed to be worshipping the One Who saved us from eternity in the Lake of Fire. How many of us really could go soul-warning when the church has set aside that time but we don't want to be inconvenienced enough to go tell someone about how Jesus died for them and wants to give them eternal life?

We need to put our lives in park...get out of our cars and do something today that inconveniences us. I don't think it was "convenient" that Jesus went to the cross of Calvary and suffered and died for our sins the way He did. But He sure did do it for us...and He didn't even complain about it!! How much more can we and should we be doing for Him?

8 comments:

Lyndy said...

“I don't think it was "convenient" that Jesus went to the cross of Calvary and suffered and died for our sins the way He did.”

Great reminder Sis Julie. Our flesh wants us to say no but anytime I have gone out of the way, I have always been the one that comes out blessed.

Love, Lyndy

Sis. Julie said...

sis. lyndy....amen!! I too am always the one that gets the blessing from being obedient in service to the Lord. That just goes to show that God truly does bless obedience!!

CindyMae said...

Excellent post Sis Julie! It is amazing how much I been blessed from just being obedient, I wish more people could realize what a wonderful thing it is to do as our Father says and wants!

Sis. Julie said...

sis. cindy....I too would love it if more people realized just how much of a blessing it is to be obedient. God honors it and He'll bless us right back for doing so.

Susannah said...

I like this: put our lives in "park" and get out of the car to do something that inconveniences us. I've been meditating on the "seek ye first the kingdom of God" verse today and it seems apropriate here.

We must realize too that helping an "undesireable" person could be risky for us as women... as no doubt it was in those days too. Seeking the Spirit's leading is key in knowing when to reach out to a homeless person, for example, and when to keep our distance.

Hugs!

Sis. Julie said...

e-mom...you are so right about being careful as women today. We certainly do live in a different day and time. It can also be said for men as well. I know a man that goes to our home church that stops and gives hitch hikers rides to a destination and even goes to homeless men when he sees them..but even he says that he has to have the Lord's prompting before doing so in order to protect himself. But I know that us ladies can do better in the area of calling those who are missing from church or taking meals to someone who is sick. I also know that more ladies can get involved in door-to-door soul-warning too. Although ladies from our church don't go out unless one of our husband's is with us. We have to protect ourselves and use some common sense in some things we do for the Lord. Thank you for adding what you have to my post.

Unknown said...

Jesus-our ultimate example!

Sis. Julie said...

sis. pam...Yes He sure is!!

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