I think that sometimes we go through this same process. We outwardly go through the motions of Christianity because we "have to". But shouldn't it be because we "get to"? When did we stop finding pleasure in serving God? We still present our "offerings" through service that means nothing to us. Yet, in all that we do, we stop seeking Him, and instead chase after so many other things. Things that we think will give us pleasure, but in the end, leave us empty and disappointed. How many of us try to make ourselves feel cool by filling our minds with ungodly things through music, movies, magazines, etc...that are not glorifying to God? When we behave in this manner...we are simply trying to shove God into whatever spare space we have in our lives...instead of letting Christ, in all that He is, completely consume our lives.
Check out verse 16...
"This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,"
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,"
Who is really writing their words on our hearts? Is it really Christ? Or are we allowing the things that we feed our minds and the things that we do (and consequently, attempt to justify) to engrave Satan's lies upon our hearts? Because in reality, when we feed ourselves things that are not of God, that is exactly what we are doing....accepting our food from the hand of Satan. When I sat and thought of it in this way, I was so convicted. How many times have been guilty of watching a movie that fills my mind with filthy language and other ungodly principles? How can I sit and justify these "little" sins that I commit on a day to day basis, when I know that it breaks the heart of my Savior? How can I sit and allow Satan to fill my mind and my heart with his lies? All for some things to make us temporarily happy.
Don't get me wrong, I am not condemning movie-watching, or listening to music that is not specifically speaking of the Lord...but I think that we forget sometimes...how much are these things really worth in comparison to Christ? We get so stuck on our own hopes and dreams that we are afraid to make Christ the center of our lives. Why are we really so afraid? Christ is not going to make you a completely different person. Those things that make you who you are...will still be there. He just want to cut out the parts that keep us from the intimacy that He desires to have with each one of us...but this kind of relationship is not possible if we continue to fill our hearts with worship for other things besides him. Because when we continue to feed off the poison that the world feeds us, and replace the time we ought to spend with him with these things...then that is exactly what we are doing. Whatever it is that we spend the bulk of our time doing is what we worship. People, we have to wake up. We have to get up....and we have got to stop putting our worship where it does not belong. Christ is the only one worthy of such a response, so why do we continue to place our love and affections with other things? That is the question, I want each of you, my friends, to consider. Because we can't continue serving two masters. We can only choose one. So choose for yourselves this day...'cause I don't know about you all, but I choose to serve the Lord.
Alicia
