Studied, Edited, Revised With Suggested Additions by merlin.
Let us draw us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings , having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgement and the raging fire that will consume the enemies of God . Hebrews 10:22-27
Are we all capable of becoming spiritually lazy saints? But first, can a “saint” even become lazy?
Although we inwardly want to stay off the rough roads of life, aren’t we of the American church today too often subconsciously (or not) pursuing a peaceful retreat from the world?
The ideas put forth in these verses from Hebrews 10 are those of stirring up one another in love while synchronizing ourselves with each other spiritually in community (being in “one accord” as referenced in Acts 2) while being vigilant against deception & quite frankly, NOT morphing into sanctified couch potatoes (lazy saints). Listen, I’m speaking to myself first!
Both of these, stirring up & assembling (by synching our spirit, soul, & body, heart, mind, & wills together with other brothers & sisters), requires initiative, or our willingness to take the first step toward Christ–realization, and definitely not the initiative towards merely worldly self-help or self–realization! Living the routine usual & customary churchy aloof, withdrawn & secluded life, is so diametrically opposed to the spirituality Jesus Christ taught while here.
So, are the true colors of our practical spirituality even visible when we encounter injustice, degradation, ingratitude, and turmoil, all of which have the tendency to first overwhelm us, before they then isolate & discourage us, causing us to look inward, rather than upward unto the hills, far, far beyond ourselves?
Actually, while being tested, should we not look up in expectancy of His deliverance and empowerment using prayer, scripture, individual & corporate worship to avoid mission drift, by inconspicuously thriving visibly while softly & quietly dispensing His love throughout our communities? It matters not whether these neighbor folk be in or out of the “fold,” for are we not mandated, in season or out, to be continually stirring up love and good works by our life styles & actions exhibiting we each being “invitationally winsomely & attractively visible” rather than confrontingly judgmental, at least until the public persecutions begin and lives are lost.
Am I guilty of using God subconsciously only for the sake of securing peace and joy? Forbid that I ever selfishly seek only the perks of church attendance, such as fire life insurance as alluded to in today’s frequently quoted prophesied terms as found in I Thessalonians 5:3, “peace and safety.”
Is it possible such deceptions from the above comments may be our first steps in the wrong direction? Is it possible that the Great Deception now silently rampant among us, deceiving the redeemed by we seeking simply the effects of salvation, while we perhaps subconsciously in our drivenness, make them our profanely politically rallying causes. I highly recommend Christian Aid Ministries Gary Miller’s book “What Jesus Refused to Do” if today’s rhetoric is confusing you! I have referenced this book in prior posts and have either a word.doc or a pdf summary for you upon request.
Bottom Line:
I offer you the words of Peter in 2 Peter 1:13 “Yes, I think it is right,” Peter said, “…to stir you up by reminding you….
Indeed, it is a most disturbing thing to be hit squarely in the stomach by someone being used of God to stir us up— someone who is full of spiritual activity. Simple active work and spiritual activity are not the same thing. Active work caused by our personal drivenness can actually be the counterfeit of spiritual activity. The real danger in spiritual laziness is that we do not want to be stirred up— all we want to hear about is a spiritual retirement from the world. Yet Jesus Christ never encourages the idea of retirement— He says, “Go and tell My brethren…” (Matthew 28:10).
Next Up:
Ah, and perhaps that’s another pressing kingdom dilemma, define “tell.”
Until next time, I offer you more from 2 Peter 1:13-21 (MSG) for your rumination.
13. This is the post to which I’ve been assigned—keeping you alert with frequent reminders—and I’m sticking to it as long as I live.
14. I know that I’m to die soon; the Master has made that quite clear to me.
15. And so I am especially eager that you have all this down in black and white so that after I die, you’ll have it for ready reference.
16. We weren’t, you know, just wishing on a star when we laid the facts out before you regarding the powerful return of our Master, Jesus Christ. We were there for the preview! We saw it with our own eyes:
17. Jesus resplendent with light from God the Father as the voice of Majestic Glory spoke: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of all my delight.”
18. We were there on the holy mountain with him. We heard the voice out of heaven with our very own ears.
19. We couldn’t be more sure of what we saw and heard—God’s glory, God’s voice. The prophetic Word was confirmed to us. You’ll do well to keep focusing on it. It’s the one light you have in a dark time as you wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts.
20. The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion.
21. And why? Because it’s not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God’s Word.
Next Up: Not sure, too many options.