"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Jesus Christ, Matthew 28:20, NIV)
Screensavers can't toast your marshmallows or warm your toes, but then again neither can unlit or unfed wood. I don't want to be a screensaver believer providing no warmth or use, but that's what happens when I fail to plug into God's Presence. My faith and witness are as flat as that monitor screen when I opt for a superficial glance at a Bible verse and and a "God bless us, every one." That's not enough charge time for those who want the abundant life Jesus promised us, for those who are ready to take the next step into the deep end of faith.
Jesus made the Eternal Source of His own Life and ours clear:
"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." John 5:19
"For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life." John 5:26
"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it." John 5:21 (adulterers and prostitutes, thieves in their final hours, traitors, outcasts, the poor, the rich and, even the rare self-righteous religious person who repented and turned fully to Him.)
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24
Have we "crossed over from death to life?" If so, then, what contributes to the burnout or discouragement? Why the occasional fizzling faith or layer of dusty old pride?
The answer is always the same: We've settled for a screen-saver relationship with God instead of taking off our shoes by His burning bush. We've plugged into some artificial source of energy such as ego-strength, human love, or duty, all of which have short shelf lives and end up draining us rather than filling us.
May 2012 be the year we learn to stay plugged into the God Who can supply all our needs and Who wants to use us in His cosmic plan.
Lord God Almighty and Eternal, Love Unending - I'm plugging in to You today. I'm kneeling before You to draw from You what You want to run through me today. Jolt me into the vision You have for this life and this time in this place. You bless us with Your Presence yet we turn to lesser powers. Forgive us. Charge us. Refresh us. Use us for Your greater purposes and remind us to keep coming to You rather than feeding on alternate sources of power.
In the Name of Jesus Who knew only Your Power and Direction
Inspired by Abundant Living, E. Stanley Jones
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