Most of us were at some point that car. The one seemingly trashed and totaled beyond repair. The beater. (1 Cor. 6:11) However, when we became christians our God stepped in as the Skilled Mechanic and twisted us and turned us into shape until we became a shiny new piece…His remodel. (Mal. 3:3, Gal. 2:20)
Even so, we often forget what He has done for us. Why is this? How do we get so wrapped up in the mundane that we lose sight of Him?
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. – Psalms 10:5
Wicked? Sounds a bit harsh perhaps, but think about it – if we are truly regenerated, will spiritual thoughts be so far removed from us? Will choosing righteousness over sin take immense effort? Will bible reading and prayer be mediocre? Will sitting in church bore us to tears? Sisters, how can these things be? How can these things be, unless…we have left our first love.
For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. – Philippians 2:21
It is no wonder God uses marriage to illustrate the love we ought to have for Him (2 Cor. 11:2, Is. 54:5, Eph. 5:32), for it should be obvious if we have true affection for our Love! What do you expect a young man to do if his sweetheart utterly ignores him, is unphased by him, and acts no different as his girl than if she were single? She would get kicked to the curb, would she not? In the same way, God knows whether we are truly in love with Him or if we’re wasting His time.
If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. – Ps. 44:20-21
We should never take for granted all that the Father has done for us. We deserved death, but when we were baptized he gave us LIFE! (Rom. 6:4) This should make us want to go above and beyond what is expected and on to fruitful living, but when we are unphased by God we become unchanged for God. If we are not in awe of the goodness of our Lord, we will neglect to imitate Him. Children imitate who they admire, whether a good influence or bad. Is it not the same with us? Who/what is it that we admire? What has our heart? If it’s not the Lord than we need to make a change.
If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. – Psalms 137:6
A marriage cannot thrive on apathy, and neither can our relationship with God! If our love for Him starts to slip, so will our behavior, and if our behavior starts to slip, we will surely be sliding down a perilous path. We must return to the zealous faith we once held!
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. – 1 John 3:18
Dig into His word and search out all the marvelous things the Lord has done for His people – including US! A great place to start is the 136th Psalm. It is rich with the goodness of our God.
Material wealth, earthly relationships, times of peace….these things can all be taken away in the blink of an eye. Let us not put our faith in these. Let us put our faith in the One who never fails. May we never become a people who are unphased or unchanged – for we do not want to be those who are unsaved. Let us seek God with our whole hearts, and continually remember all He has done on our behalf.
Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; – 1 Chronicles 16:11-12
Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. – Psalms 199:2
God bless, and take a chill pill!
Mrs. Dustin Bolks
Mrs. Dustin Bolks is a church of Christ preacher’s wife, and the home educating mother of two children. She and her family currently reside in Northwest Iowa.