“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
Today’s Christian daily devotional
The crowd around me cheered as if we were at a Def Lepard concert—front row, center—right smack-dab in the middle of the eighties.
After the band had performed their final song and the jumping and cheering subsided, the pastor grabbed the microphone and hopped onto the stage. The energy of the crowd seemed to enliven this man who looked to be in his early fifties.
I scanned the mass of people, trying to absorb the atmosphere. It was exciting to see such a large sea of faces. Many of them were smiling; their eyes open wide with great anticipation.
Oh, the wise words the pastor spoke were as beautiful as his Armani suit and tie. The eloquence of his years of experience was simply sparkling–so polished and shiny; just like the waxy apple I had eaten for breakfast.
When the service was over, I felt as if I had forgotten something in the pew. My stomached growled hungrily. Shrugging it off, I figured that whatever ‘it’ was; it would eventually be noticed.
As John and I schlepped around the suburbs searching for an eatery that would suit the both of us, I thought about Monday morning that was just waiting for us around the corner.
What did the pastor say that would inspire me in my walk with the Lord? What did he bring to my attention that I could learn to work on with the Holy Spirit?
I had an appetite to hear from the Lord, to grow and to be instructed. After attending this morning church service with such great expectations, my spiritual stomach was still grumbling for something meaty. I was still hungry.
Church was designed to be an institution for the hurting. It’s purpose is to help us heal, grow and develop in every way. Every service is not meant to be exciting; but over a series of messages, one should feel his or herself being compelled to grow more like Christ every day.
When we notice a stall in this crucial process, 1 John 4:1 reminds us to ask the Holy Spirit (that lives within) what exactly the trouble is.
If you are really hungry for God, you won’t let your desire for entertainment, beauty or comfort hold you back from filling yourself up with the real thing.
Fancy lighting, air conditioning, comfortable seats and great entertainment won’t distract you from what you are really there to receive and that is a message from God and an inspiration for growth in Him.
If you are comfortable in your church, I challenge you to look back on your life this past year. How much have you grown, changed or improved? Every day is the perfect to day to grow up and get better, don’t you think?
“Dear Heavenly Father,
I would like to get the most out of this life. I feel a stunt in my spiritual growth and I want to ask you an important question. What is going on? Is this problem because I am not doing what I am hearing? Or, am I not hearing proper guidance and instruction from the spiritual leadership that is above me?
I am a person born with free will and I want to use that free will to please the Lord; not myself, my pastor or any other human out there.
I am asking for you to show me why I am not growing, fill my heart with a deep desire to move out of apathy and into victory.
If I need to leave, open up doors that I should be entering and close the doors of places I must walk away from.
As I keep my eyes on you, I will be focused on the only thing that matters. May your will be done in my life as it is in heaven. Amen.”
Thank you for reading today’s Christian daily devotional on verses: 1 John 4:1
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan