Spiritual Hunger: “God reveals Himself the most to those who want to know Him the most.”

(Via The Batterson Blog – Thoughts on Life and Leadership.)

Yesterday, I sat with a bunch of friends of mine and we were studying the book of Revelation. Specifically we were looking at the letter to the church at Sardis in chapter 3:1-6.

As we discussed this church that Jesus described as looking alive but actually was spiritually dead, we came across a couple of verses in Ephesians 5 that stuck with me the rest of the day…

…for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. (NLT)

For me, what stood out most from this passage was the words “Make the most of every opportunity.” I guess you could say that convicted me. I must confess that I am a “Recovering Pharisee.” What does that mean?

Well, for me, it means that I had been living my life much like the church at Sardis. I did all the right things and said all the right things. But deep in my heart, my core beliefs did not reflect what I said in public.

I was alive to those who saw me in public, but to those who I let into my inner circle – they knew better. I was dead or at least not as alive as I could be.

The idea of making the most of every opportunity is something that I live out in many places but for some reason not in my spiritual relationships…

As I reflected on this yesterday and this morning, I really began to understand that God expects us to do our best with everything He gives us to do. Not just what I do 40 hours a week, but when I get home with my family, when I volunteer at church, when I am acting on stage, and most of all when I relate with Him and others about Him.

We need to be making the most of EVERY opportunity from the moment we wake up in the morning to the time we go to sleep at night. And our basis for this should be love, love for God, and a love uniquely given to the individual we are interacting with.

What do you think?

Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How long are you going to waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent. – 1 Kings 18:21 (NLT)

I got  a devotional this morning and it was a great reminder of what we should be doing as Jesus followers. We need to be taking a stand for what we believe in. Don’t be a wimp! God does not like those who can’t make up their mind. He is not demanding that you follow him. He wants you to stand up for something though. Either be for Him with everything you have or be for something else with everything you have. But don’t be a wishy-washy, go with the flow, sort of person.

Stand up for something…

I commit my life to following Jesus with everything I have – Lord, help me to be bold in my proclamation. Help me follow you in everything.

Where are you at?

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. – Revelation 3:15-16