An appropriate topic for the first post in 3+ months? I think so!
In the time since the last post here, I have often marveled at the people who seem to be able to keep up a regular schedule of updates to their blogs. In some cases it's almost a stream-of-consciousness thing, so perhaps there's not much effort, but for many of the blogs in this sidebar, there is substantive content every time. How do they do it? In 1 Corinthians 9:16-17 Paul says that he is "compelled to preach" and doesn't really do it voluntarily. Maybe that's the blogger's secret as well?
In any case, the central message from the last half of 1 Corinthians is that we need to get our priorities right and focus on what's important. I think this is probably the biggest challenge facing our generation. We live in a time when there is no quiet. Our world constantly SCREAMS at us for attention. We are constantly assailed by good, important, worthwhile things that really need our attention RIGHT NOW!
This is why churches face such difficulty in finding teachers, choir members, and other volunteers. This is why no one goes to Sunday evening worship anymore. This is why so few Christians spend any time in Bible study. We simply do not need another "activity" to fill our time. There are too many things we're ignoring already for us to add one more.
Why would I ever ignore the important and urgent things in my life in order to spend time in Bible study or prayer? There's only one reason I can think of - because I was compelled to do it. I need to understand that this faith I profess makes demands on my behavior.
God has a call on my life and on yours. We are compelled to obey, or admit that our faith is a sham.
2 comments:
Thanks for the good word. You are 100% right about our busy-ness getting in the way of what's important. On top of that, some of us find it harder to stay focused on our top priorities than others do, as you and I well know. Today, at least, you have done well. :-) Thanks for posting this.
Indeed. I wonder how much of this lack of focus is new and related to our current cultural situation (i.e., not my fault), and how much is just plain old sinfulness.
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