Have you ever wondered if you're truly living your faith or just coasting along, or if there is a difference between resting in God's grace and actively serving Him?
Truth be told, sometimes I'm not entirely sure if I'm coasting along. It's a quiet struggle, a conversation I often have with God. Many of us wrestle with this same question. This is not a preachy sermon; it is just a fellow believer sharing thoughts and inviting you to join the conversation.
When it comes to church affairs, sometimes it feels more like watching a game than being part of God's team. We get comfy, we know the routine, and all we do in church is to sit.
There's much to be said for sitting at Jesus' feet—absorbing the sermon, enjoying the music, and feeling spiritually fed. But are we truly living our faith? Are we actively serving or just passively receiving?
The key is finding that sweet spot between service and contemplation. This is not about making anyone feel guilty; it's about honest reflection and digging deeper into what following Christ means.
The picture of Mary quietly listening to Jesus (Luke 10:38–42) hits hard. It speaks volumes about the power of contemplation and devotion—real intimacy with God.
It isn't a lazy passivity but building a deep, personal connection with Christ. It's about finding stillness, letting God's Word sink in and change you. It's all about our prayers, worshipping, and being in His presence.
In our wild, always-on world, this quiet time with Christ and the Holy Spirit is becoming wholly lost. We're so busy doing that we forget to be. We're constantly striving, achieving, and performing, most times at the expense of our spiritual health.
We must remember that a close relationship with God is the bedrock of everything else. Without it, our actions become empty gestures, lacking real love and compassion.
Sitting at Jesus' feet isn't a luxury; it's essential. It's where we get His strength, wisdom, and guidance. It's where we recharge for the work He's given us. Skip this, and you risk burnout and spiritual emptiness.
So, make time for quiet reflection. Even 15 minutes a day can change everything. All it takes is for you to choose to prioritize your relationship with God. Make that connection a priority.
Spending time with God is essential, but let us be honest: He also wants us to roll up our sleeves and serve others.
Jesus wasn't just about sitting on a mountaintop; He washed his feet (John 13:1–17)! He ministered to the hurting, the helpless, and the overlooked.
Serving isn't some add-on; it's essential to a life following Christ. It’s how we love God and our neighbors; it is an authentic, tangible expression of faith. It’s putting the gospel's transformative power into action.
The opportunities are endless: volunteering at a food bank, visiting someone feeling down, mentoring a kid, helping a neighbor—the list goes on. We must also understand that serving isn't just about grand gestures. It's the little things, like giving a listening ear, a prayer, a smile, or a word of encouragement to those who need it.
Showing genuine empathy to people around us and showing someone you care is powerful stuff. It's reflecting God’s love in practical ways. Like Jesus said (Matthew 25:31–46), serving others is an act of worship. It's not just what we believe but how we act that counts.
So, let's check our hearts. Are we genuinely showing Christ’s love? Are we willing to go that extra mile? These aren’t easy questions, but they’re important. What’s our motivation for serving? Is it for the spotlight or to glorify God? That makes all the difference.
Let us talk about finding balance in our faith lives, which many of us struggle with. The truth is that sitting at Jesus' feet and serving others are not competing priorities but complementary. It is not a matter of choosing one over the other.
Think of it like this: spending quiet time with God is like charging your spiritual battery, as some might say is essential. It's where we reconnect, refuel, and get that divine guidance. However, spiritual energy is not meant to be hoarded; this is where service comes in. Serving others is the natural outflow, the way we use that renewed strength to make a difference. It's a beautiful feedback loop: serving blesses us, and that blessing sends us back to Jesus, seeking more guidance and fuel for even more excellent service.
So, how do we practically achieve this balance? We could start each day with prayer and reflection and actively seek ways to serve throughout the day. We could also dedicate specific times a day or even just an hour to focused service or Bible study.
This is not a set formula but a continuous discovery and development journey. The balance will shift and change as we grow in our faith. It's a process, a dynamic dance guided by the Holy Spirit.
Like any good journey, the key is to keep moving forward, always striving for that perfect balance of contemplation and action.
It's a common pitfall: we get hyper-focused on our spiritual practice, neglect service to others, or become so consumed by serving that our personal connection with God withers.
Both paths eventually lead to nowhere; they are exhausting and unproductive. Think of it this way: constantly serving without prayer and meditation is a recipe for burnout. Your service becomes drudgery, not a joy, and you become less effective. Not a good outcome!
Conversely, prioritizing personal devotion while ignoring service turns faith inward and self-absorbed. It's like a beautiful flower that never blooms and never bears fruit. Not very fulfilling.
The key is balance and intentionality. Honestly assess how you're spending your time, ensure personal devotion gets its due, and actively seek service opportunities.
Remember: faith isn't just a private experience; it's a call to action. We're meant to be transformed by God's love and share that love. Serving is a powerful expression of faith; it is a chance to put God's grace into action.
We often talk about wanting a deeper faith, but a truly fulfilling spiritual life is not one centered on just receiving; it's one also passionate about actively serving.
We need to find that sweet spot where our quiet time with Jesus fuels our passion for others, and our acts of service draw us closer to Him. This isn't a quick fix but a lifelong journey of growth.
The rewards are beyond measure. We need to understand that what truly matters in our relationship with God is focusing on both quiet meditation on his words and active service. These will help us find meaning and purpose in our lives as believers.
This isn't about rigid rules, just a path that many have walked before us, illuminated by scripture. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 reminds us: “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” Let's live that out daily.
And let's remember Matthew 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
This isn’t a suggestion; it's a call to action. So, are you ready to embrace this beautiful, transformative journey of sitting at Jesus’ feet and serving passionately? Let's do this together.
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