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July 10, 2008
THE SPIRITUAL SLUGGARD
Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to
good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together.
Hebrews 10:24-25
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=heb+10:24-25&sr=1
We are all capable of being spiritual sluggards; we do not want to
mix with the rough and tumble of life as it is, our one object is to
secure retirement. The note struck in Hebrews 10 is that of provoking
one another and of keeping together - both of which require
initiative, the initiative of Christ-realization, not of
self-realization. To live a remote, retired, secluded life is the
antipodes of spirituality as Jesus Christ taught it.
The test of our spirituality comes when we come up against injustice
and meanness and ingratitude and turmoil, all of which have the
tendency to make us spiritual sluggards. We want to use prayer and
Bible reading for the purpose of retirement. We utilize God for the
sake of getting peace and joy, that is, we do not want to realize
Jesus Christ, but only our enjoyment of Him. This is the first step
in the wrong direction. All these things are effects and we try to
make them causes.
"I think it meet," said Peter, ". . . to stir you up by putting you
in remembrance." It is a most disturbing thing to be smitten in the
ribs by some provoker of God, by someone who is full of spiritual
activity. Active work and spiritual activity are not the same thing.
Active work may be the counterfeit of spiritual activity. The danger
of spiritual sluggishness is that we do not wish to be stirred up,
all we want to hear about is spiritual retirement. Jesus Christ never
encourages the idea of retirement - "Go tell My brethren . ."
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=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
THE SECRET MESSAGE OF JESUS: UNCOVERING THE TRUTH THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING, by Brian McLaren
Unafraid of controversy or the uncomfortable gray areas of life,
McLaren's quest is to find the essential message of Jesus' life - even
if it overturns our conventional ideas, priorities, and practices.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?253
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
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ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST - by Oswald Chambers /\/\
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