What Does It Mean to Go Through the Motions
As many of you know, I do mention the spiritual revival I had in 2006 quite oft. It is not because I am proud of what I did back then, but considering I am amazed at the long-suffering, guidance, business organization, and kindness of God for me. In 2006, while facing some real spiritual battles and going through my Ph.D. program, I came across three verses that would change my life:But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if m seek him with all thy center and with all thy soul (Deuteronomy 4:29),Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; intermission upwards your fallow ground: for information technology is fourth dimension to seek the LORD, till he come up and pelting righteousness upon you (Hosea 10:12), andThat they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he exist not far from every one of us (Acts 17:27).
Although I had prided myself in reading the Bible through twice each year in the past, I never really had a verse – or verses – grab hold of my heed as much as these three did. Even equally I tried to continue my Bible reading, I always kept coming across other verses that were tied somehow to those three. And then one evening, I came across a couple of more verses:In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of State of israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall get, and seek the LORD their God (Jeremiah 50:4) andWhen thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy confront, LORD, will I seek (Psalms 27:8). I decided that I would begin to seriously study those verses and that particular theme of seeking the Lord as I had studied various historical events, authors, books, and other writings as a role of my college education. Within a month, I fell under conviction that my religion was non being guided past my dependence upon the Holy Spirit but only, for the lack of a better explanation, by me going through the motions.
We all know what it ways to only get through the motions. Whether it is in our workplace, our spousal relationship and friendships, or fifty-fifty our spiritual walk, at some fourth dimension nosotros are all guilty of doing things without any investment of ourselves. As a result, our work becomes unrewarding, our marriages and friendships go hollow and defective, and our spiritual walk withers. I was not experiencing any joy in my walk with Christ. Going to church and reading my Bible daily had become a function of my normal routine and I actually patted myself on the back for my faithfulness to both; notwithstanding, my centre was not into either. My spiritual wellness had get bloodless. God had tried to become my attention refocused through the trials I was going through and when I was too blind to see that, He began using what I was doing – reading my Bible daily – to speak directly to my soul. Information technology was through His word that He offers united states a not bad invitation:Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as blood-red, they shall exist every bit white as snow; though they be red similar ruby-red, they shall be as wool (Isaiah i:18).
In a way, Jesus warns us about going through the motions; during his earthly ministry building, He was teaching the disciples about prayer when he said:But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they retrieve that they shall be heard for their much speaking (Matthew 6:7). Now this poetry warns about praying using vain repetitions – going through the motions when we pray. Yes, we are praying, only we are not emotionally or spiritually invested in our prayers. The campaigner Paul fifty-fifty wrote on this very topic, alarm the Christians at the church building in Colossus:Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatever ye practice, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men (Colossians 3:22-23). The terms "eyeservice" and "menpleasers" only refer to going through the motions to meet the expectations of others. This is not the simply time that Paul warns against this:Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; only as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good matter any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free (Ephesians vi:six-8).
Both the teachings of Jesus and Paul testify us the dangers of when we go through the motions. Not only are they not rewarding or fulfilling, simply they as well do not reap any real spiritual fruit. We all know people who tin can quote the Lord's Prayer forwards and backwards, yet there is no truthful peace, joy, and hope that only the Lord tin bring. We all know people who attend church each time the doors are opened all the same their spiritual life is in disarray, at that place is little spiritual growth, and they exercise not experience the real joy that Christ can bring even into the near shattered life. From 1988 to 2006, my spiritual life was living upward to the expectations that I thought others, including God, had set for me. I do non mean that every time I went to church building or prayed information technology was for the benefit of others, simply there were many times when my worship was less than sincere, my prayers not from the middle, and even my personal evangelism was because information technology was expected that I do them and non considering of me doing them out of a cheerful heart and with an attitude of joy and beloved.
I exercise not know when it first began, simply over time it grew to all areas of my organized religion. Soon, I began reading the Bible simply because it was something Christians did. Not only was I doing this in my spiritual walk, I was too doing the same thing in my marriage, my relationship with my children, and even while going to graduate schoolhouse and my job. I was simply living day-to-24-hour interval, task by chore, and going through the motions in everything I did. No longer did I enjoy the richness of my faith, but my religion became increasingly hollow and joyless. Looking back at those days, I am glad that God woke me from the mental and spiritual sleep that I had settled in. I am glad that He rekindled my passion for Him, that he gave me purpose and desire to exist all that He has called me to be. Since 2006, the Lord has done some remarkable things in my life when I decided to quit going through the motions and decided to put my heart into everything that I did. If God can practise that for me, he can certainly do information technology for yous; no longer only go through the motions, only put your heart, soul, and mind behind everything you exercise. Live your life for Christ, and not for those around you lot.
Source: https://www.thedailywalk.org/real-faith-or-going-through-the-motions/
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