Question:
I've been stuck in a rut for about a year now. I'm a christian, but I just can't seem to live up to it. Sure I'm a good guy who follows all the rules of society, and I almost always do the right thing, but I don't read the bible as much as I should. My prayer life is hardly existant. I just feel distant from God.
I know my fair share of the bible, I go to church three times a week, but when it comes to living for Christ instead of living for myself, I fail everytime. It seems like twice a week I promise God that I have died of my earthly desires and want to do nothing but serve him. And I truly mean it. But then the next day, I don't live any differently.
I'm sure everyone has been here, but I just need some encouragement.
The hardest things for me is to overcome my laziness and live for God although it's so much easier not to. And I can never seem to witness to friends because of fear. Are their any routines or ways to help get around this? And could I have some advice on witnessing? It seems one side of me wants to shout the good news to everyone I see, but the fear keeps me quiet.
Thanks for your time.
Answer:
Originally Posted by 3DaysLater It seems like twice a week I promise God that I have died of my earthly desires and want to do nothing but serve him.
Why would you claim to have done something that even Paul himself admits to failure at the same endeavor? Honestly, really think about you. The truth is that until you die and are glorified with Christ, you will never completely die to yourself and want utterly nothing but to serve God. Perhaps your problem lies in the impossible goals that you promise God to have achieved. Then, when you fail, you feel discouraged, defeated and distant from God. Meanwhile, all God has really asked of us is to have faith in the blood of His Son, Christ Jesus. As humans, we will always sin. It's in our nature and that nature is with us until we die.
Christ told us to be perfect as God is perfect and He commanded us knowing full well that this command was impossible. This was intentional. The worse we realize we are, the greater the work of Christ on the cross becomes. This, I believe, is what Christ is accomplishing in this very impossible command. Our goal as Christians should be to glorify Christ in our lives, and this includes admitting our weaknesses, confessing our sin to God, and joyfully accepting the forgiveness we have through Christ's blood.