Spiritual Life, Spiritual Death

Revelation 3:1-6 (NIV)

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Devotional:

There are those who claim to be a Christian.  They look good on the outside.  They appear to act proper and do all the right things.  However, inside they really do not believe.  They just go through the motions.  They go to church because it is what is expected.  There are some people who believe.  At one time they really did hold close to Christ and the teachings of the Bible.  For some reason they have fallen away.  Maybe they couldn’t get past something someone did, or what a church did.  Their thoughts, like so many others, see the sin and wrong doings but not Grace and Mercy.  

True there are people who claim to be Christian but do not live it.  Some people do really bad things all in the name of Christ.  Some people cannot see beyond that and think if this is what it means to be a believer who needs it.  They are no better than anyone else.  News flash for everyone.  Christians are no better than anyone else.  We are all sinners.  We all make mistakes.  BUT that doesn’t mean that we do not strive to be as Christ-like as possible.  Another thought, churches are filled with the same people who genuinely follow Christ.  Because each one of us are fallen sinners churches are not going to be perfect either. 

Like so many so called Christians that have spiritually died inside churches are dying out as well.  Too many churches today are spiritually dying or dead.  The problem is that they do not even know it.  What is needed?  How can a few people make a difference?  A simple answer is multiplying.  As my pastor puts it.  Adding just will not be enough.  We have to multiply.  We have to make and build disciples so that they can go and make disciples.  Isn’t that what Jesus told us to do?  Matthew 28:19 (NASB) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”  

Food for thought…  How can you make a disciple if inside you are spiritually dead or dying?  Wake up before it is too late.  Don’t let your church be like the church in Sardis.  Finish the good race and fight the fight till the end.  Other people’s lives depend upon it.  Your eternal life depends upon your spiritual life.  Don’t let your relationship with Christ fade away and die.  Renew your spirit with Him before it is too late.