“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
Our weekly Christian devotional
I bounce into my little home away from home—the fitness center in the building I live in. Of course, I’ve got my favorite accessory—my trusty iPod and headphones. The funny thing is, I don’t actually listen to music. The sad thing is, if I forget to bring these items I can guarantee that I won’t be getting the kind of workout I actually came into the gym for.
As I hop onto the treadmill, I bask in the quiet din for a second. It’s just before lunch, smack-dab in the middle of the day. But, I’m no fool. I know that this place won’t stay serene. So, I cram the decoys into my ears while ramping up the speed. Because there isn’t actual music playing, I can hear the door to the tiny gym open.
A few boisterous laughs echo off the mirrored walls. My neighbor shares a funny incident that happened to him over the weekend. Despite the fact that these two men are wearing gym clothes, it’s clear that squeezing in an actual workout might be near impossible. The day only has twenty-four hours! My chatty neighbor sees the gym as more of a social club than a place to break an actual sweat.
I’m the opposite kind of gym-goer. To me, the gym is the place that will help me achieve my fitness goals.
As I ponder the vast spectrum of gym attendees, I can’t help but notice the similarities of these same mindsets mirrored in church-goers. Just as people can have different motives and reasons for hitting the gym, people can also have different motives and reasons for attending church.
Some see church as a house of worship, others as a more of a social gathering. Many see God’s house as an opportunity to help hurting people and others simply use it as a place to ‘show face’ and impress the neighbors.
So, let me ask you–How do you see God’s house? What is the purpose of church in your life? Does your church light your spiritual fire? Remember, you can only get out of it what you put into it.
“Dear Heavenly Father,
I have been attending your house for the wrong reasons. Many of them are so superficial that it makes me cringe. But, you see my heart and motive. I can’t really hide from you.
Lord, I want to grow and I’ve hit a rough patch. Show me why this is happening and what you want me to do.
If I am in the wrong church, give me the strength to see this and do something about it.
If I need to be more active in the one I am in, help me to have a heart that is willing to sacrifice my time and effort for your kingdom. I want the joy of the Lord to be my strength.
In Jesus’ precious name, I want amazing spiritual results. This will only happen with discipline, determination and hard work. So, Lord give me all the supplies I need to make sure that I am successful in your eyes. Amen.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv8kecxwV_w
Thank you for reading our weekly Christian devotional on verses: Galatians 1:10
Please check back and see what we have for you next week!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan