Greg Laurie -- How's Your Appetite?
Posted 06-20-2009 at 05:24:47 AM by meggers
It has been said that more have been killed by food than by poison. The second best can often be the worst enemy of the best.
That is what Jesus was talking about in the Parable of the Sower when He said, "Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity" (Luke 8:14 NKJV).
This is someone who appears to have made a decision for Christ and seems to be changing. But then slowly but surely, it becomes apparent that he or she doesn't really want to follow Christ. Other things become more important, although they're not necessarily bad things in and of themselves.
This isn't someone who deliberately refuses to pray or read the Bible or go to church. In fact, this is a person who feels these are very good things. It is his or her intention to do these things eventually, when there is time in that busy schedule.
Other pursuits eventually crowd out the things of God, and gradually the physical becomes more important than the spiritual. TV becomes more important than the Bible, movies are more appealing than church, parties are more important than prayer, and things on Earth are more important than treasures in heaven.
Is this happening to you? Do you find that the things of God just don't have the appeal they once did? Now that you have been at this for a while, are you not as into it as you once were? This isn't a good sign.
If you are not feeling well and go to see the doctor, one of the first things he or she will ask you is, "How is your appetite?" A hungry person is a healthy person. So if you don't have a hunger for the Word of God and the things of God, this would indicate that you are not strong spiritually.
As you look at the early church, the church that turned their world upside-down, the Bible says of them, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42 NKJV).
The Bible doesn't say they just went to church, read the Bible, and prayed. It says they continued steadfastly.
That is what Jesus was talking about in the Parable of the Sower when He said, "Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity" (Luke 8:14 NKJV).
This is someone who appears to have made a decision for Christ and seems to be changing. But then slowly but surely, it becomes apparent that he or she doesn't really want to follow Christ. Other things become more important, although they're not necessarily bad things in and of themselves.
This isn't someone who deliberately refuses to pray or read the Bible or go to church. In fact, this is a person who feels these are very good things. It is his or her intention to do these things eventually, when there is time in that busy schedule.
Other pursuits eventually crowd out the things of God, and gradually the physical becomes more important than the spiritual. TV becomes more important than the Bible, movies are more appealing than church, parties are more important than prayer, and things on Earth are more important than treasures in heaven.
Is this happening to you? Do you find that the things of God just don't have the appeal they once did? Now that you have been at this for a while, are you not as into it as you once were? This isn't a good sign.
If you are not feeling well and go to see the doctor, one of the first things he or she will ask you is, "How is your appetite?" A hungry person is a healthy person. So if you don't have a hunger for the Word of God and the things of God, this would indicate that you are not strong spiritually.
As you look at the early church, the church that turned their world upside-down, the Bible says of them, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42 NKJV).
The Bible doesn't say they just went to church, read the Bible, and prayed. It says they continued steadfastly.
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