Spiritual Prescription IT TAKES TIME
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not be faint. Isa. 40:31.
Take time. Jesus' analogy is that the physical life and the spiritual life are sustained in the same way. From this we learn basic principles of how to have a meaningful relationship with Him. How fat would some of us be if we spent as much time eating our physical food as we spend alone with God?
"It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ."--The Desire of Ages, p. 83. This does not mean that you have to set a timer to make sure you spend exactly sixty minutes in communication with God every day. But it is going to have to involve something more than reading a text for the day while you have your hand on the doorknob. It will have to involve significant time, at least as much time as you spend eating your meals.
You say, "I don't have time." May I remind you that we find time for whatever we believe is important. The reason why many people do not spend time in relationship with Christ every day is simply that they don't believe that it's all that important. If they did, they would find the time available.
If I don't think it's important to spend the time to become acquainted with Christ, it must be because I think I can be saved in some other way than through knowing Him. And if one doesn't depend on Jesus, he is probably depending on himself. One of the major reasons why people do not spend time in beholding Christ and in relationship with Him is that they are still operating on the basis of trying to secure salvation by their own efforts.
It is true that the devotional life can become simply another "work." Spending time each day reading your Bible and praying will no more guarantee you a healthy spiritual life than daily eating and breathing will assure you a healthy physical life. But it's a sure thing that you cannot be healthy without it!
John 17:3, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Knowing God is what eternal life is all about, and is the purpose of the devotional life.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not be faint. Isa. 40:31.
Take time. Jesus' analogy is that the physical life and the spiritual life are sustained in the same way. From this we learn basic principles of how to have a meaningful relationship with Him. How fat would some of us be if we spent as much time eating our physical food as we spend alone with God?
"It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ."--The Desire of Ages, p. 83. This does not mean that you have to set a timer to make sure you spend exactly sixty minutes in communication with God every day. But it is going to have to involve something more than reading a text for the day while you have your hand on the doorknob. It will have to involve significant time, at least as much time as you spend eating your meals.
You say, "I don't have time." May I remind you that we find time for whatever we believe is important. The reason why many people do not spend time in relationship with Christ every day is simply that they don't believe that it's all that important. If they did, they would find the time available.
If I don't think it's important to spend the time to become acquainted with Christ, it must be because I think I can be saved in some other way than through knowing Him. And if one doesn't depend on Jesus, he is probably depending on himself. One of the major reasons why people do not spend time in beholding Christ and in relationship with Him is that they are still operating on the basis of trying to secure salvation by their own efforts.
It is true that the devotional life can become simply another "work." Spending time each day reading your Bible and praying will no more guarantee you a healthy spiritual life than daily eating and breathing will assure you a healthy physical life. But it's a sure thing that you cannot be healthy without it!
John 17:3, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Knowing God is what eternal life is all about, and is the purpose of the devotional life.
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