Saints At Church

An elder in a church I served a number of years ago said, “If our relationship with God suffers, then our ritual of worship will suffer, too.”  In other words, if what we’re doing through the week has no bearing on our relationship with Jesus Christ, then our time in weekend worship simply becomes an empty ritual. I pray we don’t appear to be religious on the outside but are far from God on the inside!

 A college student was out of work and desperate for a job and finally applied at the local zoo.  The owner said, “My gorilla died and it will be a while before we get a new one.  I need someone to put on this gorilla suit and pretend to be like the gorilla.”  The man took the job.  At first, he jumped around and ate bananas, but soon he began to beat his chest and make noises and rush the bars, delighting the crowds.  He became knows as the “Fierce Gorilla.”  One day he was swinging on the monkey bars, and he accidentally flipped himself over the top of the bars and into the lion’s den next door.  The crowd rushed around the corner to see the “Fierce Gorilla” and the Hungry Lions.  They saw the gorilla pinned against a corner, and you could hear a small voice coming out of the gorilla, “Help, I’m just a guy in a gorilla suit.”  A voice coming out of the lion said, “Hey, be quiet!  You’re not the only college student who needs a job!”  Sometimes we pretend to be someone we’re not.  An ancient proverb says, “All are not saints who go to church.”

So who are you…on the inside?  Does that person on the inside match up with with the person on the outside?  If not, then it’s time to make a change–from the inside out.  How do we do that?

We confess that we can’t do it on our own.  We acknowledge that we need the power of the Holy Spirit to transform us.

Second, we commit.  The road is tough, but we commit to go down that road through honest humility.  We commit to do whatever it takes.  We read the Word DAILY.  We pray DAILY.  We commit ourselves to other followers of Christ in Christian community who will love us AND be truthful with us.  

Third, we take it one day at a time.  Don’t get in a hurry.  Spiritual transformation doesn’t occur overnight.  Focus on serving others, showing kindness, and not allowing yourself to be put in compromising situations.  Stand firm in the faith!  The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us, so let’s continue to call on the name of the Lord, receive His strength, and walk in His grace.


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You’re currently reading “Saints At Church,” an entry on Rick Grover’s Weblog

Published:
November 12, 2008 / 5:10 pm
Category:
Bumper Sticker Christianity
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