Don Loflis Via Bulletin Gold
The media is filled with products which promise great
results for minimal efforts. We are told that we can lose
20 pounds without any exercise and can eat all the foods
we want, if we take one little “miracle pill” a day. We
can make $100,000 a year by working only 10 hours a
week, if we join a popular on-line business group.
A lot of folks must feel the same way about their
religious involvement. They desire all the spiritual
blessings (forgiveness, peace, fellowship, hope, etc.), as
long as they can drop in to worship once a month and
give their $50 a year. They want to be spiritual giants
tomorrow without giving up any of the pleasures of the
world today.
Jesus warned His listeners, “Enter through the
narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad
that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter
through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow
that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Mt.
7:13-14). Later He said, “If anyone wishes to come after
Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily
and follow Me.” (Lk. 9:23). Paul understood the true
price tag of loyalty to Jesus and passed that message
along to a young preacher named Timothy by stating,
“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will
be persecuted.” (II Tim. 3:12).
It is difficult to swim upstream, but Christians are called to
challenge and resist the evil within culture. The Lord
shapes our lives more through adversity and temptation
than prosperity (James 1:2-4). Bargain religion is destined
to fail, because Jesus demands more. Remember, we were
redeemed not with cheap grace but with the blood of the
Son of God.
Groveland, FL