For the last few weeks, I have been struck with a growing awareness that I am once again living a life of partial Christianity.  That I am falling back into “cafeteria christianity”, choosing grace and peace and love and baby Jesus while passing on sacrifice, unswerving devotion, and a relentless and passionate pursuit of holiness.

Being a Christ follower is not simply attending church, mealtime prayers, and knowing where your bible is.  It is all consuming.  We are to be radically and wholeheartedly focused on Him and building His kingdom.  We are to love Him to such an extent that all other relationships pale in comparison.

Somehow, we have allowed ourselves to justify our current lives as “good enough”.  To rationalize away thoughts of talking with strangers about Christ, quitting a job that is destroying us or our family, or stepping out in faith to follow our calling when it doesn’t make fiancial sense.

In other words, we settle for a dull, worldly, meaningless existence and wonder why we are not passionate, driven, and fulfilled.  We were meant to be warriors on a crusade, and instead, we are uninvolved bystanders simply watching life’s parade move by.

First New Year’s Resolution –

Matt 22:37     Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  Christ tells the crowd that this is the greatest commandment, so let’s start here.  How do you love God with all your heart?  With all your soul?  With all your mind?  Christ separates them out, why?   I have to think that if Christ followers truly obeyed this command, and lived it out, our lives would look different than they do now.  Will you join me in resolving to love God first, most, and best?  Understanding that in all likelihood, it will require real (and potentially massive) change?

Grace and peace my friends.