Can we do this? Can we have it both ways? Can we live with one foot in the world and one foot in the Word of God? Is it OK to straddle the sacred and the secular? Do you think God understands if there are times we kinda sorta favor the world’s way of doing things since, well, we live here?
Satan likes this approach. Satan is pleased when we try to live with one foot in the world and one foot in the Word. He is thrilled to watch us try to keep one eye on culture and one on Christ. He knows it doesn’t work, that we cannot serve two masters. He knows, as the Scriptures proclaim, that there is only room for one God on the throne of one’s heart. Satan knows the Bible as well as any of us.
So, what we’re pondering here is this: Is it OK to be less than a 100% Christ-follower? I sin, I fail, I make mistakes – so many mistakes. So, why bother with striving to plant both feet and my whole heart in the Word? I might as well enjoy the world while I’m here. Sin boldly; just make sure to repent?!?
By all means, enjoy the blessings all around us! Enjoy them with all of the delight God grants. There is so much to take in, perhaps summer feels like a time when many get to do more and experience more of all that God has placed here for our enjoyment. But be sure to not let these blessings become your master. When God created the world, he intended for people to subdue the earth/have dominion (pick your translation), NOT that worldly things should dominate/subdue his people.
C.S. Lewis commented often on this effort to be less than a fully devoted Christ-follower. Here’s one such quote:
Christ says, “Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it…Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked–the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.”
Abundant life (or, as a confessional Lutheran might put it – “Reformation life”) is found in Christ and His Word, as his grace and power lead us to continually direct our hearts lives toward him and his glory. Allow anything else to share first place/top billing in your life with Christ, and you really don’t have Christ at all.
The believer looks to the Word: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-14)
In Christ,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
Satan likes this approach. Satan is pleased when we try to live with one foot in the world and one foot in the Word. He is thrilled to watch us try to keep one eye on culture and one on Christ. He knows it doesn’t work, that we cannot serve two masters. He knows, as the Scriptures proclaim, that there is only room for one God on the throne of one’s heart. Satan knows the Bible as well as any of us.
So, what we’re pondering here is this: Is it OK to be less than a 100% Christ-follower? I sin, I fail, I make mistakes – so many mistakes. So, why bother with striving to plant both feet and my whole heart in the Word? I might as well enjoy the world while I’m here. Sin boldly; just make sure to repent?!?
By all means, enjoy the blessings all around us! Enjoy them with all of the delight God grants. There is so much to take in, perhaps summer feels like a time when many get to do more and experience more of all that God has placed here for our enjoyment. But be sure to not let these blessings become your master. When God created the world, he intended for people to subdue the earth/have dominion (pick your translation), NOT that worldly things should dominate/subdue his people.
C.S. Lewis commented often on this effort to be less than a fully devoted Christ-follower. Here’s one such quote:
Christ says, “Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it…Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked–the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.”
Abundant life (or, as a confessional Lutheran might put it – “Reformation life”) is found in Christ and His Word, as his grace and power lead us to continually direct our hearts lives toward him and his glory. Allow anything else to share first place/top billing in your life with Christ, and you really don’t have Christ at all.
The believer looks to the Word: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-14)
In Christ,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
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