Issue #1,163 – Instant Jesus – May 17, 2023
I don’t know if the problem is as profound in the rest of the world, but North Americans live in an “instant” world. We love microwave popcorn, fast food restaurants and high-speed internet. I confess to being very annoyed the other day when my internet speed seemed painfully slow but was light-years more rapid than in the old days of dial-up.
We seem unwilling to spend time doing things anymore. We want more of everything, and we want it NOW.
Politicians no longer worry about the art of oratory or the content of their speeches. They worry about how they will look in a seconds-long soundbite. A great politician may never be elected if they cannot look right on television or get their message across in a tweet.
It is like that for many people in their faith walk as well. Some time back, I read an article about a church in Florida that guaranteed you would be in and out in under 45 minutes. I wondered if that promise came with a money-back policy.
In far too many congregations, if the sermon is over 20 minutes long or the full service passes an hour in length, people start to fidget and check their watches. Many a pastor has endured Monday morning complaints that the message or sermon was too long.
We try to cram our entire faith walk into a rushed hour on Sundays (when we aren’t too busy to attend). Then we wonder if the Bible is true because God seems distant or we don’t see Him working.
Relationships take time. If you only spent an hour a week with someone, how long would it take to develop a deep and meaningful intimate relationship with them? You would be hard-pressed to create a relationship or make it last under those circumstances.
As we rush through our overly busy lives, we simply want some instant Jesus. Just enough to meet our religious “obligation. Enough to feel good and get rid of some guilt, maybe enough to have genie Jesus answer a desperate prayer. A token worship attendance, a reluctant offering, a feel-good message and off for the rest of the week.
In the days of the early church, we see a much different approach.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:43-47
Our lives today are very different than what God designed us for. He created us for an eternal, intimate relationship with Him. We read about how He walked with Adam and Elijah and spent 40 days with Moses on the mountaintop. How would we react if God asked for 40 days of our time?
God, the creator of the universe and everything in it, sent His Son to die so that we could spend regular intimate time with Him and be with Him forevermore. Will you continue to ignore the Lord or try to cram Him into an hour or less a week? To do so is to rob yourself of the relationship and blessings He wants for you.
Until next time, may you be filled with the indescribable joy of an intimate relationship with Him. May you take time out of your instant world and be blessed through time with Him.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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