In the book of Mark, it makes it very plain what commandment is the most important of them all.
(Mark 12:28-30 ESV) 28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
How do we know when we practicing Christians are falling out of love with God? I say we practicing Christians because it is important for me to note that Christianity is an active living lifestyle that corresponds with the Word of our living Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. I am not Christian because I say that I am Christian, I am Christian because I practice and obey the Word of God. So, for those of us who actively practice the Word of God, how is it we can fall out of love with God?
My Thoughts:
I must be careful not to fall out of love with God! God's word keeps me in line, it grounds me, and it sets the standard for me. I find when I am in love with God that I will do what it takes for me to keep my part of the relationship strong. I am obedient, forgiving, loving, kind, and patient. But when I start to walk away from His love I find everything in my life is affected because He is the very thing that centered me (kept me together) in the first place. Because God and His Word are the core of my beliefs, the moment that I start to walk away from the Lord for whatever reason (pain, unforgiveness, hurt, etc.) I become unstable. See I must understand that once the Cornerstone (Jesus) starts to be removed, the rest of the foundation is now shaky. If the cornerstone is pulled all the way out from underneath the building it will fall.
Sometimes the reason we fall as Christians is that the cornerstone is starting to be removed or has been fully removed. The hard part is to recognize when the cornerstone is starting to be removed: When speaking of the Cornerstone (Jesus) I realize He did not walk away from me, I know that I have walked or unknowingly wandered away from Him.
Example:
PICTURE THIS: A stack of bricks placed on a cornerstone, if you start to slide out the cornerstone from underneath the structure you cannot see right away that the foundation is shaky because it is still supported somewhat by the cornerstone. But as you continue to slide the cornerstone out you may start to notice the instability and when it is totally removed the structure will crash to the ground.
Short Personal Story:
I found myself in a place where I was backsliding in my life concerning following the Lord. I have allowed a void in me, discontentment, and pain to creep in and steal my joy which has allowed Satan to slowly slide my cornerstone away from me. I found that I was no longer measuring things against my Lord’s Word, but against my own word and thoughts. What started to happen was that my emotions and my feelings were trumping my spiritual side in my decision-making, and actions. People I once forgave, I started feeling unforgiveness towards them creeping back into my heart. The bright eyes that I once had for my life, my wife, and others started to dim. My love for people started to fade, and feelings of being trapped and having sorrow for myself begin to creep in. The things which God perfected in my life started to become no longer perfect. Everything that God made right around me and every gift that He gave me I began to question because it started not to look so good anymore. I started to second guess every decision that I made and the ‘what would have happened if I had made other decisions’ thought process kicked in, ‘what would my life have been like’ questions I started to ask myself. I no longer could view the bright future the Lord had shown me and because I had no hope in that future my focus was on the past and not the present.
But God caught me, He told me to place the Cornerstone (Jesus) back in the right place (as Lord of my heart) and strengthen myself so I could rebuild again. As I began to work with Jesus to stabilize myself I continued to get stronger, my erratic actions began to cease, I regained control of my feelings and my emotions and began to stabilize again. My love for my Lord was being renewed, my hope regained, my relationships repaired, my spirit rejuvenated, and my peace restored. I regained my vision, I could see the future again, my soul was straightening up within me, and my life once again became beautiful. I was building again on my God because I was once again Loving the Lord with all my (1) heart, my (2) soul, my (3) mind, and with all of my (4) strength.
Challenge:
This week, take some time to meditate on Mark 12:30 and write down where you need to grow in these four (4) areas of your life concerning the Lord. Pray, ask for clarity, and strive for a deeper relationship with the Lord!
Take Care Family,
Pastor Charles
©Copyright Charles R. Myles II 2022
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