Chapter 4: "Profile of the Lukewarm"
>> Monday, April 12, 2010
Chan reminds us in ths chapter about the parable of the sower. Where do you feel that you are in this parable? Chan writes more than once, "Do not assume you are on good soil." He then goes on to describe many profiles of lukewarm individuals. What did these profiles and the scriptures that follows them stir in you? Were you able to take a hard honest look at yourself and not focus on those around you? How is God moving in you through the book at this time?
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To be completely honest, I think that I am going to have to lock myself into a quiet room and read this chapter again. At first glance, I thought "I am on good soil....maybe a few weeds....well, maybe there are a few more thorns and weeds than I thought...." I especially feel that way because I know that I need to re-read the chapter! I seem to have this constant congestion in my brain with thoughts, reminders, inventories, to-do lists, etc. rolling around in my brain. It is amazing how quickly my brain can make it from a glance at the dishes to something that will be happening next month. How can I possibly be truly focused on following Jesus when my brain won't shut off for two seconds to focus 100% of my energy on Him?
I really want to go back through all of the lukewarm profiles again and put myself under the microscope. It is just important to me to make sure that I hear His voice, instead of letting my mind travel and Chan's writting remind me of something completely off subject. I caught myself making mental plans for a possible outreach for our church once our building is finished while reading some of the scriptures that he had referenced. It isn't bad to be brainstorming ideas like that, but I really need to go back and focus on myself in this chapter...my motives, where I stand. Where is God drawing me closer to Him?
On page 67 it says, "When the seed is spread among the thorns, it is received but soon suffocated by lie's worries, riches, and pleasures". Suffocated...it's a good word to describe a lukewarm life, isn't it? Suffocated by worry, doctor's appointments, sickness, meetings, dishes that are piled in the sink, laundry, even pleasures...
To prevent suffocating I have to find a way to breathe. Genesis 2:7 says, "the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being" So God has already physically breathed life into me, now I just have to keep breathing!
I'm doing the Believing God study by Beth Moore right now. Last weeks video highlighted 2 Corintians 4:13 "It is written: 'I believed; therefore I have spoken.' With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak..." Here is what Beth taught: Pneuma is the word for spirit in this verse, and the word Pneuma also means breath. I'm just going to quote her because I cannot say it better. "Consider how we can live off the CPR of God: as we believe, we inhale His words, and as we speak, we exhale His words."
So if I can try to more simply explain my jumbled thoughts...in the beginning God physically breathed life into us, and he gave us his Word that we may continue breathing.
LUKEWARM. It's a lifestyle I've lived for a long time; And it is suffocating. But I serve a God who is willing to pull out thorns and weeds, give me good soil, and the breath of life...and that is where I stand. I'm in a season of pruning.
Praise be to God that he is always willing to offer me his breath, that I might not suffocate myself!
On page 77, Chan says, "Lukewarm people are concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them from sacrificing and risking for God." Something that God laid on my heart when I read this is that I have to find a way to let go of my need for control. He wants me to TRUST...and trust and control cannot coexist in my relationship with God.
Psalm 9:10
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you
Immediately after finishing this chapter, I honestly felt hopeless. How can this stay-at-home mom reach out to people when I am in some major need of weed pulling and thorn pruning? On the surface you would assume and even I would assume that I was good soil. But this chapter made me realize that I have a lot of thorns in my life. I know I am not "godly enough" and I am not satisfied with who I am in Him. If I would just focus on my own realtionship with God then maybe something will change. I can not change anyone else but me. I can not even do that by myself. Only God can truly change me once I totally abandon all of the things that keep me distracted from Him. If I am not willing to give Him everything then I am like the salt analogy that Chan explained on pg. 81. How disgusting is that? God is truly calling me to stand up and dust myself off. Life may not be the fairytale that I envisioned it to be but thanks be to God that He has a plan.
I wrote a post yesterday and apparently did something wrong on publishing it. Maybe God wanted me to rethink what I wrote :) Anyway, I'll get my post up sometime tomorrow I hope. Ya'll had some good stuff to think about!
I'm going to try this again! I can relate to Kasey that I thought "I'm good soil with a few weeds" and then realizing I have more than a few weeds. I also have some thorns and much pruning to do.
Chan made several comments that really stung when I read them....
"The fact is, He just wasn't interested in those who fake it."
*I hate to admit it but sometimes I fake it. Sometimes I feel like I'm just going through the motions and to other people I look like I have it together but I really don't. Sometimes I just don't "feel" like it.
"Do not assume you are good soil"
*I think I'm guilty of assuming I'm good soil because I live a good life and try not to do "bad" stuff. I go to church, read my bible, tell me kids about Jesus, but sometimes I let all that fall on the wayside and weeds and thorns begin to grow.
"Has your relationship with God actually changed the way you live?"
*Somedays I can see evidence that I lived a changed life and somedays not.
"Would you describe yourself as totally in love with Jesus Christ?"
*I'm definetely in love with Jesus. But honestly if I was totally in love with Jesus I wouldn't struggle to find time in my day for Him.
There are others but these seem to really stick out to me.
Being lukewarm is a scary place to be. I don't think I'm constantly stuck in that place but I know there are seasons when I am. There are times when I feel totally in love with Jesus and can't get enough of Him and times when I can't remember the last time I opened my bible. I'm not sure what makes that shift happen but I think I'm more aware now that it does happen.
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