Some of us feel we are Christians but have stopped growing in our spiritual lives. We have been in church nearly all of our lives, yet have never become mature in our Christian lives. We know little of the Bible. Have little desire to pray until necessary. Bear few marks of a Christian in our daily living.
Yet we affirm often that we will do better. "I will, through my own sheer will power, revise and improve my way of living for my faith!" This desire is fine, but futile.
A corpse might determine to say "I will, through sheer effort, rise out of this casket and be a living man again." We need help from a power outside of ourselves. This comes from God alone, as we pray for that power.
Our present self-power is a lot like that which I discovered when I went to my cousin's to hear their "crystal powered radio set," four score years ago. I heard only squawks and static, and momentarily a voice or music. This was thrilling to hear, but very unsatisfactory. This is much like our present Christian life picture before others. We fail to convince anyone with our squawking and static that we are Christian.
Most of us would like to be convincing Christians. We would like to give clear and understandable messages with our lives and lips. It is never easy to do so, but the happiest Christians around, I know, have reason to sigh and complain, having been denied any privileges and pleasures that they see others enjoy, yet have greater cause for gratitude and joy than many people who are wealthy in things.
There is available a peace, satisfaction and joy that we can experience. We need not give an unconvincing and even personally unsatisfying Christian witness. And for the most part we want to do and be that kind of witness.
My daughter-in-law put a message on her voice mail answering machine, which when I phoned I heard "You know what to do!" So I gave my message. Most of us "know what to do" from our years of time as unsatisfied Christians. Let us sincerely pray that God will help us do it.
