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What Gets in the Way?
So, what gets in the way of you growing spiritually into a maturing disciple of Jesus? Isn’t that what Jesus calls us to, that we look more and more like him (Gal 4:19)?
I know it’s not easy, I can speak from first-hand experience! And, I know we can’t do it on our own and we need the power of Christ. We have the assurance that we can do all things through him who strengthens us (Phil 4:13). And yes, we can be holy as we are formed more and more into the kind of person God made us in the first place (Psalm 139).
In today’s culture, I think there are two primary things that get in the way of us becoming more like Jesus: STUFF and STRESS.
Since the beginning of time, we’ve struggled with the temptation to replace God with things. (On a daily basis, be honest. What really rules on the throne of your life?) There is a competing theology called materialism and it seems to be winning. We’re faced with it every single day of our lives.
I was taken aback several years ago when a friend of mine said his family had stopped getting the Sunday paper because he didn’t like being tempted and enticed by all the circulars and advertising that weigh it down every week! Or, here’s what author and Pastor Joe Stowell says: “The stuff that usually attracts my attention and triggers my consumer instinct is headed for the dumpster only to be buried in a garbage mountain dotted with stink pipes to vent the toxic gasses of its demise. Even the car I love is headed for the giant metal crusher to be recycled into another nifty car that is destined for the same fate.”
Stuff, and worries about not having enough, or the right kind, or replacing what we do have, gets in the way. It makes it harder to be the hands and feet of Jesus, love our neighbors, bear the fruit of the Spirit and be a light to this world. Isn’t that what we’re called to do as disciples of Jesus?
“I’m too stressed (or busy) to be like Jesus!” While many of us might not actually say that out loud, we feel that way in our heart sometimes. In this world, time is a precious commodity we just don’t seem to have enough of, and it’s an obstacle to the soul work necessary for us to grow in our relationship with God.
We live life at a breakneck pace that oftentimes allows no margins for breathing, no time just to be, and in many cases, no quality time with family–let alone time to focus on God! But, just like a parent, God loves to spend time with you and me—His beloved children. And that kind of quality time is hard for many of us to carve out of jam-packed schedules already brimming with work, family obligations, hobbies, sports, and the list goes on. Speaker and Pastor Chuck Swindoll says, “The problem is that we worship our work, work at our play, and play at our worship when we should worship at our worship, work at our work and play at our play.”
So, we all may want to pray about what stuff we need to give up or let go of in order to more fully invest our time into growing a deeper relationship with God, as we become more spiritually fit.
In Him,
Pastor Chris
Books
Recommended books on stewardship
It All Goes Back In The Box by John Ortberg
Making Room For Life by Randy Frazee
God And Your Stuff: The Vital Link
Between
Your Possessions and Your Soul by Wesley K. Willmer
Fields Of Gold by Andy Stanley
Secrets Of The Generous Life by Gordon MacDonald
Money, Possessions And Eternity by Randy Alcorn
The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
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