It happens to me pretty often. Usually I'm distracted by something or I'm just tired. Either way, I know it can be frustrating to the person who was trying to communicate with you, especially if they were telling you something really important.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that we do this with God pretty often. We may attend church every Sunday morning, but are we actually applying what the Bible teaches to our lives?
On Thursday evening I was at a small group with dear sisters in Christ and we watched a sermon from Andy Stanley. He was teaching about the importance of actually applying what Jesus taught to our daily lives. For instance, in Matthew chapters 5-7 Jesus is teaching on a mountainside. The famous Sermon on the Mount.
I encourage you to read all of Matthew chapters 5-7 and you can do so, here. (opens in new window) You can easily choose whatever translation you would like but it opens up to the New International Version.
Everything He taught is very applicable and essential if we are true Christ followers.
I am just going to discuss Matthew 5:13-16 a little bit.
Matthew 5:13-16-
Salt and Light
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Emphasis added)
If we are followers of Christ, we are to be a light in this dark world. We are called to shine the Light of Christ so that people who do not know the Lord will be drawn to Him because they can't find their way in this life otherwise.
When we are living in sin, darkness covers us and we become blind. We cannot find our way in this dark world. We cannot find our way without Christ.
Again I say, we are called to shine His light and draw people to Him by living in a different way. In a way opposite of the world. Shining so brightly that the darkness has to flee!
The same goes for being the salt of the earth.
I think of this in two different ways -
The right amount of salt enhances the flavor of any particular dish. Therefore, as followers of Christ we are to add just the right amount of 'salt' of Jesus to our every conversation as well as in all of our actions. Everything we do should reflect who Christ is. If we aren't applying Jesus' teachings to our lives, how can we look like Him or live like He did?
Adding a lot of salt does a couple different things depending on the situation. It could either turn someone away, say, if we are being too forceful or trying too hard to get someone to repent and desire Jesus. (Only God can soften harden hearts)
OR it could evoke thirst.
Think, most movie theater popcorn. It is so doused with salt that if you don't also buy a drink to quench that thirst your lips will crack and burn and your mouth will dry up! (surely a tactic to make more money I wouldn't doubt!)
Anyway, if we douse certain conversations or certain actions with a lot of salt and God has prepared someone's heart, they will thirst for more. They will want to hear more and learn more about our Heavenly Father.
I believe we need to be prayerful in every situation and be careful about what we say to whom. However, as Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, we are to live as He did. If we don't put it in to practice we may as well never attend church.
As my pastor, Pastor Woodly at Redeeming Love Fellowship quoted - "Being inside a garage doesn't make you a car and being inside a church building doesn't make you a Christ follower."
Meaning, if you only attend a church service once a week and check "God time" off your list of 'to-dos' but then the rest of the week live as though God doesn't exist, there is no benefit to you or anyone else including God. God wants your whole heart surrendered to Him. He doesn't want just your attendance to a church service. He wants your heart!
Matthew 7:24-27-
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Emphasis added)
Be sure that you are making a true effort to listen, truly hear, and put into practice what the Bible teaches. Don't just show up and fall asleep, it does you no good.
Pray for the desire to know God and live like He wants you to. To live in the way Jesus taught us.
When we finally surrender to Him and truly live like He did you will see amazing things happen!
"Don't just go to church, BE the church!"
"Walking through the halls of a desperate place, I see it on the faces. All the mothers all the fathers searching for some faith......The more it hurts the more I need of You. The more I search the more I see of You. I don’t have to know how, or see You turn this around to believe in You, to believe in You now."
-Brit
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