See God wants all of us all the time. See a relationship need two or more people for it to work. Just like in a marriage if both people aren't putting all of themselves or all of there effort into the relationship it wont work. God is always doing his part of the relationship. He is always in love with us, always providing for us. The real problem is you and me. See we think we are doing enough but we really aren't. God tells us to give up our lives for him. Maybe that means literary loosing your life for him or it could also mean giving up of all that you have and all that you want for him and his glory. Giving up of you life.
We are a lukewarm people. We let ourselves get complacent with Christ and his call for us. I know I have done it and still do it. Right now he is working in me to see this problem and fix it. But there are many things in life that we think we can get away with or think we are doing okay, but we aren't we a lukewarm and think that its okay.
This is what Francis Chan say in Crazy Love how lukewarm people look like.
They attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe "good Christians" do, so they go.
They give money to charity and to the church... as long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so. after all, God loves a cheerful giver.
They tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. they desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions than what God thinks of their heart and lives.
They don't really want to be saved from their sin: they want only to be saved from the penalty for their sin. They don't genuinely hate sin and aren't truly sorry for it; they're merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don't really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one.
The are moved by stories abut people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for "extreme" Christians, not average ones.
They rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion.
They gauge their morality or "goodness" by comparing themselves to the secular world. As long as they live a better life than some really bad people they should be good.
They say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a part. They give him sections of their lives. But only a part.
They love God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you that they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn't really possible for the average person; its only for pastors and missionaries and radicals.
They love other but do not seek to love others as much as themselves. Their love of others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is little love left over for those who cannot love them back.
They will serve God and others, but there are limits to how fat they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give.
They think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focus on today's to-do list, this week's schedule, and next month's vacations. Rarely if ever, do they intently consider the life to come.
They are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor.
They do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, to be "good enough" without it requiring too much of them.
They are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them from sacrificing and risking for God.
They feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America. But you like the Israel you are not just safe because you are apart of do those things.
They do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don't have to trust God if something unexpected happens they have their savings account.
They probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren't very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitize lives with holiness, but they couldn't be more wrong.
I know I am guilty of all of these things. I know that I have not been the best man of God that I can be. I know that we all struggle with these lukewarm tendencies, and so does Christ, that why he gave us himself. We must seek Christ will all of our lives and with all of our heart. we must be in his word every day to fight of our sinful lukewarm tendencies. If we do this Christ will give us strength and peace in all the things that we face. We will be a people of true faith and love.
Don't be lukewarm my friends. Seek first the Kingdom of God. Your are in my prayers. Keep me in yours. You are Loved!
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