#Two Of Four
Last week I introduced Four Faces at The Bridge by talking to the Spiritual Seeker. If that describes you, we are glad you are here, and we’d love to help you in any way we can. Jesus Christ is real in our lives, and we’d be thrilled if you saw that and received him into your life.
This week it’s the Distracted Disciple. If you are a distracted disciple, you have committed your life to Christ… but you’ve since become distracted. You might say something like, “I’m a Christian, but I’m not fanatical!” But this is what Jesus said it means to be one of his followers, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23, NIV). Sounds like Jesus taught that to be a true disciple will be fanatical.
How come in athletics it is a good thing to be a fan, but not when it comes to our souls? I really wonder about the sincerity of a person’s profession when they find it easy to talk about their favorite sports team but rarely, if ever, their God. How come we can be excited when Justin Fields drops back to pass but so bored on Sunday morning during worship?
Several years ago I read an interesting study done on what causes boredom. They sat two different groups in separate rooms with a video playing of a class lecture. One room was completely quiet. The other room had music and voices in the background just outside of the classroom, and was barely audible. Those in the first room later responded in a questionnaire that they found the lecture interesting and stimulating. In the second room, the one with distractions in the background, the majority described the lecture, the same lecture, as boring to very boring.
Boredom is caused by distraction. When we pour our full attention into something, it becomes interesting.
If you’re bored with church or your Christian life, maybe it’s not the church! It definitely isn’t the Christian life. Maybe you’ve allowed too many things to distract you and you are no longer giving God your full attention.
Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10, NKJV). The thief (Satan) is thrilled when you say, “I am a Christian, but not a fanatic.” He has come to steal and destroy. He is distracting you with things that may not be wrong, but they are distracting, and he knows how effective that distraction is. But Jesus wants to give you abundant life. Living for him with your whole heart, soul, and mind is the most exciting life a person can live.
Make that move from “distracted disciple” to “fervent follower.” He is worth it!