Drifting Away From Undivided Devotion
By: Kristen L. McNulty
Reprint rights available on request. Email the author at kristenmcnulty@hotmail.com.
Tyler and Sarah have been together for seven years now. He pursued her relentlessly and won her heart and five years ago they got up in front of their families and friends and committed everything to one another. Anyone looking at them on their wedding day had no doubts this couple was head over heels for each other. Today though, the picture painted looks much differently, at least for Sarah. While Tyler has gone above and beyond to make himself available to her and purse her, Sarah is a busy lady and between her job, social life and activities, most days she and Tyler only speak for a few minutes before bed. She carves out an hour the weekend to spend just with him, but even that hour isn't ideal as often her heart and mind is elsewhere. She still wears Tyler's ring, to the outside world it still looks like they have the ideal relationship, but behind closed doors it's very obvious Sarah is quickly drifting away from Tyler.
Putting Ourselves In The Story
If you were asked what kind of odds you gave this couple of going the distance, what would you say? Chances are most of us would say they are drifting towards a divorce. Now what would you say if I told you to replace Tyler's name in this story with Jesus and replace Sarah's name with your own?
In the Bible we are taught, that we are the bride of Christ (Revelation 19) and that Jesus loves us in the same way a husband loves a wife (Ephesians 5). That said, if you look at your relationship with God like a marriage, how strong is it?
Fine Doesn't Cut It
You might say that everything is fine. You go to church once a week. You pray for a few minutes every day. You pick up your Bible every now and then. But when the same standard was applied to a marriage relationship in Tyler and Sarah's story, I'm sure each and every one of us recognized what the wife was doing wasn't enough and she was drifting away from her husband at a rather rapid rate. Can the same be said of you in your relationship with God?
According to Vance Havner, "A wife who is 85% faithful to her husband is not faithful at all. There is no such thing as part-time loyalty to Jesus Christ."
In 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul put it this way:
"I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent." 2 Corinthians 11:1-3
A Clear Warning
The warning to us is clear, it's very possible to for our relationship with God to become corrupted. And I think the warning of how it happens is contained in verse 3, when our pure and undivided devotion to God becomes anything less than that. Let's face it, most of us, myself included, had such a strong fire and zeal when we first came to know Jesus. We came face to face with His extravagant love and were caught up in it. But then time passes, we get distracted, our schedule consumes our time and it's not long before the things of this world consume our pure and undivided devotion to Him. If that's the position you find yourself in right now, I've got great news for you, it's not too late to turn back!
As the story of the prodigal son teaches us (Luke 15), God always stands with arms open to welcome us back, even if we've wandered very far away. Turn to God, ask for forgiveness, then make a plan for change. Just like we'd never expect Tyler and Sarah's relationship to go the distance in its current state, we can't expect our relationship with God to go the distance if we don't approach it as the most important relationship in our lives and carve out the time we need to keep our undivided attention on Christ. Be found regularly in His Word, build your prayer life up, surround yourself with cheerleaders for your relationship with God who can encourage you along the journey, don't just attend church but commit to your church body and serve with a willing heart, above all put Him first before everything else.
A Wake-Up Call From James
James 4 in the Message:
"You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that 'he’s a fiercely jealous lover.' And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that 'God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.'So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet." James 4:4-10
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