Complacency . . .

This is something we have all probably been guilty of on more than one occasion, and sadly, it has the tendency to creep into our relationship with the Lord also. We reach a certain point and then we stop (or at least become less committed to) striving to grow in our walk with the Lord.

We lose the desire, the eagerness, the heart to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14.) We allow the things of this world (whether it be physical, emotional or even ‘religious’ things) to cloud our vision. We become “stagnant”, allowing bacteria and other such things to take root and grow.

This spirit of complacency is a grievous state to find oneself in, for it leads to many negative things in our spiritual life . . . the lack of maturation through His word, closeness with the Lord, effectiveness for His kingdom, and the list goes on. 

At times such as these, I have oft found encouragement and conviction when reading in Scripture the heart cries of those who have come before us . . .

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after You, O God. My soul thirsts for the living God;” Psalm 42:1-2a

“O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1

What eagerness, desire and zeal lie in these declarations! As the deer thirsts for the water that sustains its life, so also should we thirst for our God . . . the living God. As the parched and cracked ground thirsts desperately for the life-giving rain to fall upon it and bring growth, so also should our hearts thirst and long after the Lord and His Word so that we can know Him more and grow, bearing fruit for His glory.

David also declared in the verse from Psalm 63, “I shall seek You earnestly.” The Lord, and He alone, should we whole-heartedly seek! For only in Him is life and the “living water" (John 4:10, 14.) Only in Him is truth.

It is also only through Him that we can “walk as children of Light” (Ephesians 5:8.) It is only through the “strength which God supplies” (1 Peter 4:11) that we can walk in obedience to Him. It is only through Him. Everything of lasting and eternal value and importance is only through Him. As those who have been “bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20), He should truly be our all in all.

When this earthly life comes to a close, it will not matter how big and well-decorated our homes are, or what kind of car we drive, or how many titles precede or follow our names, or how many awards and achievements we received, or how well we were known or received by men – all this will have no value or importance. 

All that matters, in the end, is our heart and relationship with and towards the Lord and how we glorified, served and obeyed Him in this life.

This should be the focus, aim and cry of our hearts! To know the Lord. And not just know about Him, but to know Him in relationship . . . as our Abba Father, our Savior, our Redeemer, our Lord, our Potter, our Master. 

Then through this intimate knowing of the Lord, springs the only response that can come from a heart set upon Him . . . obedience. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3.)

May we truly strive after and long for this heavenly mindedness instead of earthly mindedness! May we have but one goal, one focus of our hearts . . . to glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

May we be able to declare like Paul “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8.)

“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.’” (Psalm 27:8)

-Posted by Sarah