Do your blessings determine your relationship with God or does your relationship with God decide the blessings that you receive?
We are living in a generation that is all about convenience. We invent technology and discover new things that would bring about a more convenient and a comfortable lifestyle. We think of better ideas to ease every difficulty. And there is nothing wrong with that, until…
…we make the mistake of allowing that mindset to take hold of our spiritual lifestyle as well.
We think of ways we can make our relationship with Christ a lot more comfortable to suit our needs and to fit our schedule. When it comes to praying and reading the Bible, we are always in a hurry. We shove it to the last of our to-dos. We feel that going to church every Sunday is a chore. We have become such a passive generation when, on the other hand, we hear in persecuted countries such as China and the Middle East, underground churches spend hours worshiping God in Spirit and truth! Check out the following video to see what’s happening in China.
In China, where you can be beaten, jailed, or even killed for your faith in Christ, these people show tremendous courage to share the Gospel despite the risks.
Do you know what the greatest deception is among Christians? That it is okay to live as you please.
We are being spoon-fed with comfort and worldly blessings that we seldom stop to think what is wrong with our faith in Christ. We don’t pray to God for the infilling of the Holy Spirit anymore rather we pray for receiving blessings that may pertain to our family, finance, and career – all of which are worldly (Now, I don’t mean to say we must not pray for worldly blessing but not just that). We don’t take the effort to spread the gospel but are rather hesitant to do that. Worse still, some of us even credit the depth of our faith with the confirmation through all the worldly blessings that have been received!
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matthew 6:19-20 (NKJV)
There is a certain sense of complacency creeping into the church and it is making us delusional. We may miss out in action. Yes, God blesses us with worldly blessings but let that not distract us from the prime mandate He has called us for – to serve Him.
Jesus said,
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
We are headed in the wrong direction because we forget that we live in the end times. Anything can happen and we must brace ourselves for it. But more than that, are we prepared for it?
When Abraham made a covenant with God he was still fatherless, old and well-advanced in age. But as it is said in Hebrews , he reckoned it as righteousness.
Covenant /ˈkʌv(ə)nənt/: (noun) An agreement.
(Theology) An agreement which brings about a relationship of commitment between God and his people. The Jewish faith is based on the biblical covenants made with Abraham, Moses, and David. (oxford dictionaries)
When we come into a covenant with God, there is greater level of commitment and discipline expected from us. A covenant christian can be confident in Christ no matter how big the storm is. And even in the time of abundance the covenant christian does not get distracted by the worldly blessings.
When Jesus shed His precious blood on the cross of Calvary, He wanted us to be reunited with God. We have been called into a new covenant of grace in God which still requires us to adhere to the rules of faith and to be dedicated and disciplined.
The early believers were strengthened in their faith in God. Yet, when we read the book of the Acts of the Apostles, their situation was very hostile, they were severely persecuted for their faith in Christ even to the point of getting killed. Despite all this we read:
Day after day the congregations became stronger in faith and larger in size.
Acts 16:5 (MSG)
So, how did a persecuted group of believers strengthen in faith without any evident blessings from God? The answer is in the previous verse:
And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
Acts 9:31 (NKJV)
Here’s some food for thought: ask yourself these 3 important questions during your spiritual walk with Christ:
- Where do you stand in your spiritual growth?
- Are you a covenant Christian or a convenient Christian?
- Would you still love God despite tough circumstances and unanswered prayers?
God bless.
