The Thrill is Gone
Longtime Believers start to find that serving Christ has become mechanical and perfunctory. The sense of close, hour by hour joy in communing with Christ dissolves into a distant awareness of His presence. Scripture becomes academic, detached from our relationship with Christ. Bible study and prayer grow dry and predictable. Worship becomes routine. The magnificence of Calvary’s cross is fading into familiarity. Passion give way to indifference. Purpose and simplicity give way to clutter. The problem comes subtlety like old age or poor eyesight. We don’t see it as sin, rather just a normal part of the Christian experience. But God knows our heart.
In Revelation 2:1-4 we are reminded of the issue that tends to affect an amazing amount of Believers and entire Church gatherings. There needs to be resolution and renewal. Three simple elements will get us back on track if we are willing to commit to them:
Remember: We have lost sight of the cost of redemption. The newness of life in Christ is like an old pair of shoes. We don’t polish them anymore because they are not fresh. Calvary is not fresh in our minds. Watch “The Passion of the Christ” again – not the recut version, but with all the pain and suffering which we understand as we view the movie. Read again the agony of Christ in the garden. Read again the betrayal by His friends and followers. Read again of the travail of God the Father.
Repent: Not designed to be a normal thing for Christians. Confession is normal. Repent means we have wandered off the narrow road and gradually turned toward a direction in opposition to God’s design. Admit it is sin to continue to experience the symptoms of a loss of llove.
Return: To the Work that is designed for God’s children, the followers of the discipline of Christ. Stop wasting time doing little or nothing to build the Kingdom and get to work. Share your faith, teach a child or another person a Truth, pray with your family – not just at meals, but frequently. Stop criticizing the leadership of your Church, along with the music, and the programs, and the activities. Take a role in leadership instead. Get involved in an additional Bible Study, memorize Scripture, create opportunities for ministry. Llove someone who is unlovable. Llove someone who is lovable.
You probably don’t have a problem understanding this need if it exists in your life. You can start today. . .or you can slip further behind.