1/21/2009 - Complacent Christians

Quiet Time 1-21-09 – Complacent Christians

References: 

Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)  “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? . . . It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. . . . let your goods deeds shine our for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” 

Proverbs 14:12 (NLT) “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death” 

Edmund Burke (British statesman)  “Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.” (or when the don’t do all they can)

I am reminded this morning that we as Christians must work to be the best Christians we can be.  I believe that one of the most significant detriments to the Christian testimony is complacency – being satisfied with where we are in our Christian walk and not striving to be better.  Admitting I am a sinner, believing God sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins, accepting the gift of salvation and repenting of my sins is enough to get me into heaven; but my believing alone doesn’t help those that are lost or disciple fellow Christians.  My beliefs must be put into actions to be salt and light to the rest of the world.  My high school football coach instilled in me that I would not play the game well if I was lackadaisical (complacent) in practice.  I may have needed some encouragement for practice, but I would not have imagined playing the game lackadaisically.  As Christians we are always “in the game” or maybe we are always practicing “the game”; either way, we must not be lackadaisical.  I confess to God that I am a complacent Christian much more often than I am striving to be the best Christian possible.  I ask each of you to pray with me, for me to run my race (no walking allowed).  I’ll pray for each of you as well.  Being a complacent Christian is like walking down a path that seems right.  The NLT Life Application Study Bible provides the following notes for Proverbs 14:12:  “The path that seems right may offer many options and require few sacrifices.  Easy choices, however, should make us take a second look.  Is this solution attractive because it allows me to be lazy?  because it doesn’t ask me to change my lifestyle?  because it requires no moral restraints?  The right choice often requires hard work and self-sacrifice.  Don’t be enticed by apparent shortcuts that seem right but end in death”.  May we challenge ourselves to not be complacent Christians so that we may effectively challenge fellow Christians. 

Make smart choices, be a blessing, love everybody, have a great day . . . I love you!