Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.
"Wow, look at that sunset over the Santa Rosa Sound!"
Huh? Oh, last night's was better.
"The early morning sunlight sparkling off the Sound is very pretty."
*Yawn* I can't wait to get to work and get my coffee.
"This sugar sand beach is amazing!"
Yeah, but it’s really hard to walk on.
"Watching dusk fall over the Gulf sure can lead to introspection, can't it?"
The gnats are bad tonight, let's go in.
Seems like we as people often forget what we have. It is easy for the amazing to become old hat. We take things for granted, at least I do. Does this ever fall into our spiritual lives?
"I GET to worship with my brethren tonight!"
Duh, it’s Wednesday. I HAVE to be there by seven. (Still not used to that time.)
"Isn't the plan of salvation amazing? All the intricacies of foreshadowing and teaching in the Old Testament leading to the sacrifice of God's own Son?"
Huh? Yeah, its great that we don't have worry about sin. Um. . . what foreshadowing?
"Can you believe that we can hold in our hands the inspired Word of God and learn from Him what He wants?"
Yeah, I just leave my Bible in the car so I never forget to take it to church.
"We can talk to God!"
Yeah, I pray at every meal.
Do we take our salvation for granted? The blessings of the church? Isn't it a shame that the new converts often outstrip those "raised in the church" in enthusiasm? We've known it all our lives; shouldn't we be farther along, and more deeply excited by our greater knowledge? Yet the best teachers/students at some churches are the men and women who were converted as adults. The Christians "raised in the church" are often the pew fillers.
Part of the problem may be that we don't understand the boon that Christ offers us, since we never experienced the emptiness and depression often felt by those who don't know why they are here and where they are going, and who have no hope of getting away from past mistakes. We have been taught from childhood about who we are and where we are going and what we need to do, and have in some ways missed the excitement of finding something that gives peace from horrible mistakes and a hope to live for. We all sin, though, and we need to understand how great God's forgiveness is. As we advance through life, peace from the trials of the world becomes a greater and greater need.
Familiarity breeds contempt, the old saying goes. We need to become excited again. We must never allow familiarity to rob us of the amazement at the wonders the Lord has worked in us.
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, Heb 12:28.
Lucas Ward
"Wow, look at that sunset over the Santa Rosa Sound!"
Huh? Oh, last night's was better.
"The early morning sunlight sparkling off the Sound is very pretty."
*Yawn* I can't wait to get to work and get my coffee.
"This sugar sand beach is amazing!"
Yeah, but it’s really hard to walk on.
"Watching dusk fall over the Gulf sure can lead to introspection, can't it?"
The gnats are bad tonight, let's go in.
Seems like we as people often forget what we have. It is easy for the amazing to become old hat. We take things for granted, at least I do. Does this ever fall into our spiritual lives?
"I GET to worship with my brethren tonight!"
Duh, it’s Wednesday. I HAVE to be there by seven. (Still not used to that time.)
"Isn't the plan of salvation amazing? All the intricacies of foreshadowing and teaching in the Old Testament leading to the sacrifice of God's own Son?"
Huh? Yeah, its great that we don't have worry about sin. Um. . . what foreshadowing?
"Can you believe that we can hold in our hands the inspired Word of God and learn from Him what He wants?"
Yeah, I just leave my Bible in the car so I never forget to take it to church.
"We can talk to God!"
Yeah, I pray at every meal.
Do we take our salvation for granted? The blessings of the church? Isn't it a shame that the new converts often outstrip those "raised in the church" in enthusiasm? We've known it all our lives; shouldn't we be farther along, and more deeply excited by our greater knowledge? Yet the best teachers/students at some churches are the men and women who were converted as adults. The Christians "raised in the church" are often the pew fillers.
Part of the problem may be that we don't understand the boon that Christ offers us, since we never experienced the emptiness and depression often felt by those who don't know why they are here and where they are going, and who have no hope of getting away from past mistakes. We have been taught from childhood about who we are and where we are going and what we need to do, and have in some ways missed the excitement of finding something that gives peace from horrible mistakes and a hope to live for. We all sin, though, and we need to understand how great God's forgiveness is. As we advance through life, peace from the trials of the world becomes a greater and greater need.
Familiarity breeds contempt, the old saying goes. We need to become excited again. We must never allow familiarity to rob us of the amazement at the wonders the Lord has worked in us.
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, Heb 12:28.
Lucas Ward
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