In case you needed a little stronger of a nudge to come this weekend, here’s a little excerpt from Dr Lane’s book, “How People Change.” I think most of us are in a similar place with no major crisis calling us to deeper and deeper growth in discipleship. Tim Lane hits the nail on the head here!
In John’s case, the problem was that he was simply too content. He had reached a plateau in his relationship with God. He had a strong faith and was involved in his church, but there were Thorns in his life that just weren’t going away. For example, John had an explosive temper. He regularly blew up in traffic and got mad at his wife when they worked together around the house. He could barely control his anger at the officials at his children’s athletic events.
John also struggled with debt. He always had his eye on the next new tool or ‘man-toy.’ He drove a late model luxury car and lived in a house he couldn’t afford. despite several raises and a reasonable budget, John’s materialism had led him into debt.
John had problems in his relationship with his wife, Meg. Rather than a relationship of servant love, tenderness, and unity, their marriage had the feel of military détente. They didn’t fight a lot; they just lived separate lives and ended each day sleeping in the same bed. Meg didn’t feel close to John, so she surrounded herself with friends with whom she shared her joys and sorrows.
There are many Johns in our churches–People who know the Lord but whose lives clearly need change. Yet they live in the Christian community with no sense of urgency or evidence of a personal agenda for growth. As Christians, they are far too easily satisfied.
God calls you to be dissatisfied. You should be discontent, restless, and hungry! The Christian life is a state of thankful discontent or joyful dissatisfaction. That is, I live every day thankful for the grace that has changed my life, but I am not satisfied. Why not? Because, when I look at myself honestly, I have to admit that I am not all I can be in Christ. I am thankful for the many things in my life that would not be there without his grace, but I will not settle for a partial inheritance!
Do you have a holy discontent? Or has your spiritual life stagnated? Either way, please come and be inspired to grow in the likeness of Christ!
