The World of Flesh or Desire for Christ 6

Today I’ll address the question “Am I commonly too comfortable to follow Christ?” Perhaps, I should be more routinely utilising the Spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, Biblical reading and study. Why? Because they’re a definite part of the cure to what ails you(spiritually). I’ll discuss fasting because I think it is the most overlooked of those(by myself anyway). I read this by John Piper once talking about fasting, “The most deadly appetites are not for the poison of evil, but for the simple pleasures of the earth. For when these replace an appetite for God Himself the idolatry is scarcely recognizable, and almost incurable.” Then the denial of my stomach’s appetite for food might express, or even increase, my soul’s “appetite” for God (a definite incentive). What is in jeopardy then may not only be the good of my soul, but also the glory of my Lord. He goes on to say, “There is no easy way home to heaven. The hard and narrow way is strewn with obstacles and many fatal paths of innocent pleasure. There is a war to be fought within and without. The inward war is with our own “appetites” that compete with our hunger for God. And one of the weapons is fasting. I invite you to turn from the dangers of idolatry, and to say with some simple fast, “This much, O God, I want You.” Truly everyday I desire to shout “This much, O God, I want You!” But, I often wonder if I can even grasp or realise what a self defence, self denial can be.

In conclusion the main questions I ask myself are:

Do I have faith in a goal of righteousness, or is my desire to find the limit I can reach or break and still be saved from eternal death?

Do I truly believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God come in the flesh, and that He came to die in our place( because of our sins) on a cross, rising three days later to a life everlasting in power, being seated at the right hand of God? That one is easy, Yes, I do. I couldn’t imagine anything otherwise.

Do I love Jesus with all of my might, confident that He loves me and is preparing for those who believe in Him a place sharing in His inheritance and glory?

I'll end with this verse which is one of my favorites:
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
And let the one who hears say “Come.”
And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost
Revelations 22:17

Note: The End