When I don't desire God

"I feel ashame to call myself a Christian. I cuss. I don't go to

church. I don't pray."

This was a message I received from one of my friends. I believe that

this pretty much sums up the predicament that many Christians are

facing. We may cuss like a sailor or we may be at church everytime the

doors are open, but the problem transcends our actions. We do the

things we don't want to do and we don't do the things we know to do.

The problem is not that we are apathetic. The problem is that we don't

want to be apathetic but we are.

So what's the remedy?

Well first of all, the christian life is not about perfection. It's

about progress. We were justified when we were saved but that doesn't

mean we are perfect. The Holy Spirit continues to work in us everyday

to mold us to perfection. Being forgiven doesn't mean you are perfect.

Being debt-free doesn't mean you are rich.

With that in mind, the Christian life is also a continous battle

between two distinct desires. You may not desire God, but you wish you

were. Augustine said it this way, "the whole life of a good Christian

is holy longing." you cannot sporadically love somebody with all your

heart. In fact, we cannot love anybody unless God gives us the love.

So this means we can't love God unless He gives us the love for Him.

Augustine would say, "God command me and give me what you command."

We need to try to excel in the reveal things that God has told us to

do. Keeping Him in our minds and trusting that God will stir our

affections to do His will. Because what you think about is what you

care about and what you care about, you will chase.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Philippians 4: 8

Harold T. Crow