Monday, February 20, 2023

            Can you imagine someone growing tired of God?  Can you imagine someone wondering what good comes from a relationship with the Lord?  How would one grow tired or bored by the amazing ways and power of God?  Malachi suggested that Israel had grown tired of God or even pushed God away.  We read the prophet’s mournful words, “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty?’” (Malachi 3:14).  Hard to fathom that Israel would have grown frustrated with God!  He had built them into a nation, given them land, led them out of Egypt and freed them from slavery.  But Malachi said the people believed it was “futile to serve God.”  It is dangerous and reckless to push God to the margins of life.  To ensure the same conclusion cannot be drawn about us, we can take several important steps or actions.
            First, remember what the Lord has done for you.  Remember how He has blessed you.  Remember what He has given to you.  Never forget about the Lord and never live a day without talking and walking with Him.  We can easily find ourselves at a distance from God if we neglect opportunities to connect with Him each day.  Be intentional about seeking the Lord and seeing the Lord.  The more you seek the Lord the more you will find yourself seeking Him and wanting time with Him. 
            Second, lose the ego.  Only God is God.  We are not God.  Life is not about what makes us happy or what fulfills us.  Life is about bringing glory to God.  Life is about serving Him and elevating Him above ourselves or anything else.  We are not to make life about ourselves and what we can gain from it.  A lot of the things that we enjoy or make a big deal out of will perish.  They are not suitable for eternity.  Money, material things and much of what we may accumulate will not travel into eternity with us.  We lose the ego when we make life about serving the Lord and laying up treasures in heaven.
            Third, God’s ways are right and good.  We never have to worry about God’s ways or Word leading us astray.  Culture can be a bad influence.  Some people can be bad influences.  Even friends can pull us away from the Lord and water down our zeal for Him.  But when obeying the Lord and following Him are our top priorities then we are on a pathway that is good.  Do not be ashamed of the Lord and His ways.  Leave behind anything that comes into conflict with your faith and your walk with Christ.  Eagerly walk with, obey and love the Lord! 
            And fourth, refresh your faith.  If life seems futile and your faith seems that way, take time to freshen it up.  Pray for God to revive or renew you.  Ask God to reveal any sinful ways or behavior in your life.  Spend some extra time in prayer and Bible reading.  Psalms is a great place to start for refreshing your faith.  You find a range of emotions and situations where the writer is calling out for God to make His grace and refreshing power known to His people.  Do not let the enemy convince you that serving the Lord is futile or empty.  He would love to persuade you to give up and sit down.  He may not persuade you to walk away from God but the enemy will be happy just to nudge you to the margins or sidelines of faith a little more each day.  Satan often patiently sows seeds of discontent in hearts and homes.  Be aware of His schemes and strategies.  He is skilled in subtlety. 
            Malachi brought his prophecy to an end with a powerful word...remember (4:4).
Remember the Lord.  Remember to serve Him.  Remember Him throughout your days.  If we are thinking of the Lord and walking with Him, we reduce the likelihood that we will grow frustrated or think that our faith is futile.  Remember where the Lord has been at work.  Remember what the Lord has entrusted to you.  And walk boldly with Him.  Have a great Monday.  Remember you can worship again and share our Sunday worship twenty-four hours a day at youtube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.