How many people do you know who behave different in church on Sunday, than they do at work on Monday? There’s the woman who’s so polite and courteous on Sunday, yet away from church she can out cuss a member of the Outlaw Biker Motorcycle Gang. There’s the man who takes up the offering, is all smiles to everyone in his pew, but goes home and treats his family like they’re mud beneath his feet.
Some people act as if they leave Jesus behind to save their seat in church each week. They come to church shouting “Amen” and “Hallelujah” but when they leave they go back to that bar they hang out every night, leaving their children and wife at home. Or to that computer screen with the porn. Or that rated “R” movie. Or that book with all the foul language and explicit sex.
James 4:8 says, Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. You’re only as close to God as you allow Him to be.
Do you move God away when you want to do something He doesn’t approve of? Is God in the garage while you’re in traffic so he doesn’t hear those words you say? Is God in the spare bedroom while your boyfriend is in the bed with you?
As a Christian, we need to have a passion to be close to Jesus. That means we shouldn’t want to do things that do not please Him. Over the next week, write events from your day and how your reacted to them in a journal. At the end of each day ask yourself if you would have done things different if Jesus were standing right next to you.
Jesus is with us always. We just make a habit of forgetting Him because we don’t physically see Him. As a Christian, we should get in the habit of feeling Him with us. Sometimes it’s hard to always play the good Christian. That’s understandable. We’re only human. But the more we focus on the fact that He is with us, the better we will behave like the Christians we should.
I know I’m pretty judgmental at times. It’s so easy to point a finger at someone when they do something wrong. I also grumble and complain when things don’t go the way I think they should. Those are two subjects I need to work on.
What areas do you need help remembering that God is there with you? How can you remember God is with you always to help in those situations?
A good reminder!
Thanks for stopping by Patty.
Always an interesting topic. I wrote a poem called Shelving Jesus about this very thing =-) http://danapalooza.blogspot.com/p/poetry.html
Thanks Dana. You’re so talented. I can barely spell the word rhyme much less write a poem.
LOL, it’s an awful poem. I apologize to all the real poets out there =-)
I have to admit, there are times I’m guilty of this (especially in traffic – your comment about Jesus in the garage and being stuck in traffic really hit home and convicted me! LOL!) I love this reminder to stay focused on what Christ, and our lives in Him are all about – and to leave behind bad habits like impatience and worldly behavior, especially when it comes to the ones we love. Wonderful post!
Thanks Marianne. I keep the Christian music on to try to get through traffic. It doesn’t always work. 🙂
When the situation is over it’s easy to remember GOD. I need help when it is going on in my life. This is the hard part to remember and is where my daily prayers have requested intervention from above. Amen
James, prayer does keep him in the forefront. I also talk to him in traffic and at other times. People must think I’m nuts sometimes. LOL