I thought I’d share what I wrote in my journal from my Tuesday’s quiet time.
Tuesday’s Devotions: 1 John 3:4-10
No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
- v.6
What does this say about nominal Christians? Certainly when I was more of a nominal Christian I struggled with the fact that I continued to sin, that I was in a rut, seemingly unable to get out. Certainly this passage can be interpreted to condemn Christians stuck in unproductive lives.
How can we define continuing in sin? Is it not loving God? Not keeping of his commands? What then are his commands – the 10 Commandments, the (two) greatest commands? Practicing righteousness, justice?
If, as I observe, we North American Christians are not following these commands – but instead are living as slaves to individualism, materialism, and consumerism – then perhaps we are condemned indeed. Our lifestyles do not reflect this doing what is right and doing what is righteous. Can this also explain why so many Christians feel trapped, apathetic, and ineffective not only in spiritual matters, but in other dimensions?
I’ve heard rumblings from among ordinary Christians, both newer and more mature – we’re asking where is my passion? We recognize our feelings that something isn’t right. Our spiritual walk is not consistently strong, nor on fire, nor effective. We need conferences and special speakers to give our spiritual walks a boost, like an addict needs her fix.
From preparing materials from my Mustard Seed versus McWorld class, I am convinced that the root cause of this symptom is that we have not made God the Lord of our lives. We may have gone through the conversion process, but we have not let God be the center. This Jesus figure was radically counter-cultural, and he calls us to follow – to be sustained in God, and then to call others along to this journey.
There’s no more of: Getting ahead in the job comes first. Getting ahead in our living situations comes first. Getting our economic security comes first. Getting our kids off to their activities comes first. Oh… and Jesus, too.
I can’t say I’m the good guy in all this, that I’m even close to being perfect. However, as I consider Jesus’ call to take up the cross in my own life and as I slowly step out in faith to live righteously, to do justice, to show mercy, to give God my first fruits, not the leftovers, and to forget about the trappings that our culture wants to force into our heads, my life becomes more fulfilled, more perfect, more alive, more passionate.
Lord, show us how to love one another, how to do right and be right, how to show righteousness and compassion; Lord show us mercy so we too can show mercy.