Complacent?

That’s a word that’s been on my lips a few times today…especially in thinking of how some are towards growth…seeking God for more…and especially in living outside of the walls we’ve secured around our lives.  Complacent.

I was one.  With a capital “C”.  It makes me nauseated now to think of how I was—and would still be had God not gotten my attention with life…

You know…life.  The daily stuff that happens and then all of a sudden, life smacks you in the head with a brutal sharpness that causes your eyes to sting. 

God will deal with complacent…and I personally believe it nauseates Him.

What do you do with this disease?  Is it treatable?

I say, “yes”.  But it takes some knee work.  As in getting down on them and seeking God—asking for forgiveness for the hardness of our hearts and the blindness of our eyes to the plight of others.

I’ve witnessed complacency.  It sits comfortably on church pews all across our nation.  It has soft knees and not so soft hearts.  I’ve seen complacency fill a pulpit…from real life—to televangelist.  Those seeking that dollar bill…or mega-dollar bills.  Nauseating.

The day we went to the temples in Cambodia, I struggled inside with what I witnessed.  People kneeling before a lie…seeking to please a lie.  Walking miles in the heat for a lie…tears formed in my eyes as I watched one young woman, possibly early 20’s kneel down and offer something to the dead stone.

But think for just a minute what we are doing every single day.  We offer up hours of our lives to dead stone.  Maybe it’s not stone, but it’s dead nonetheless.  It not only steals your time…but it steals your family.   It steals your future…and if I may be so bold to say (I may as well be bold—I told God I’d type what He dictated),  I believe it will steal your eternity in heaven…and hand deliver you one to hell.  Ouch.  That hurt.

Where are you sowing seeds of life?   In your church?  In your neighborhood?  Community?

Or in dead stone.

I’ve spent all the time I intend to with dead stone…I determined a few years ago, that God would have my full attention.  If He chose to rearrange my whole life—He could.  If He chooses now to send me across the “pond”…I’m His to send.

Truthfully, I am dealing with things since my return.  The first trip to Honduras brought things into focus…now, the lens of my camera has been cleaned again.  Bolivia brought insight and clarity.  Cambodia brings urgency.  An urgency that cannot be ignored.

When I came home from Honduras…God really began to deal with me about how I spent my time and money.  I worked on it…with His guidance and help.  I told a dear pastor friend today, Bolivia was different.  Maybe it was because Jeff and I were there together—but there was a feeling of dog-tired-joy.  Joy like I’ve never experienced.  Peace. 

Tonight—as I sit here—reliving moments of the past 3 years, I am praying for more insight into His plan.  I will change-rearrange-do what needs to be done to fall in line behind Him.  Following Him has been my “sign-off” on my blog for many years, then, I changed it to “Giving Him All”.  When I give Him my ALL, I am following Him…and I don’t intend to stop.

I can promise you I won’t be a favorite.  It happens when I leave and see God somewhere where the people are hungry for Him and then come home to where the complacent out-number the hungry…even in our own church.  My mouth sometimes gets in gear and I can’t stop it…so—if you are one of the complacent…you might want to avoid me for a while.

If you are not sold out completely—willing to give it all up for Him—then I’m afraid you are like the girl in the picture.  Standing before the dead stone.  You may not be bowing down…but you are there…stuck inside the rocky walls of life…and life has a tendency of crashing down…

Might I add—a crash helmet won’t help…

Only the helmet of salvation will.

Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.   In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Amen.

 

© Angie Knight-The Knightly News 2012.  All rights reserved.