Get a Real Kick

Good morning.

How often have we walked out of a church service and commented: “That was a good message” or “the Holy Spirit has moved today”? We felt encouraged and motivated, but when we get to the tea- and coffee table our discussions don’t even reach what we’ve experienced from God. We talk about mundane earthly things, don’t we? Not even to mention going out and doing what we’ve learned.

We read in James 1:22-25: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.”

We live in an entertainment age. We want to be entertained by God. We want to get Goosebumps and observe emotional feelings of God’s presence. Some don’t even bother about the Lord, as long as the preacher brought an entertaining message.

During Jesus’ ministry most of the observers were also only there for the entertainment – to receive either a miracle or a nice story to tell, but when it came to the push, when Jesus were arrested, they all deserted Him.

Jesus wasn’t in it for the entertainment though. To Him his Father’s business was serious and it cost Him. He worked hard and in the end paid a terrible price. The story’s ending was not altogether bad though – some of those who deserted Jesus did return and then realised the seriousness of His business. For the remainder of their lives they also suffered and paid the price.

But did they get a kick out of it! We experience emotional Goosebumps of God’s presence, but they saw God in action and experienced His amazing power. How did they manage it?  It’s simple, they did not only hear the Word of God, they believed it and did it and the Lord followed it with signs and wonders.

Signs and wonders don’t need to be big and sensational. To lead somebody to the Lord is fantabulous! To see the Lord opening a door to reach somebody’s soul is sensational. When we pray against issues such as violence, human trafficking, abortion, etc. and God arranges a breakthrough it’s awesome.

“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 you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1, 2).”

Christ was persecuted when He did God’s work. The Apostles were persecuted when they did God’s work. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).”

We’re not called for entertainment and sensation. We’re called to be like Jesus who was persecuted as a result of His obedience. We shouldn’t be popular, we should make a difference.

Lord, please wake us up to be like Jesus and to make a difference.