In the Shakespearean masterpiece Hamlet, Polonius said, "This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man." This is the last piece of advice that Shakespeare's character Polonius gives to his son Laertes regarding living a proper life. There is great wisdom in Polonius' warnings. His measured pronouncements and wise counsel warn against the disadvantage of living a life of intemperate pursuits; constantly chasing the lust-craze of self-satisfaction - living far too busy pursuing self-interest.
Today, a vast majority of America's Christians are drowning in the trite, trivial pursuits of self interests. Many have forgotten the verities of Scripture and the instruction of its law. Leader's have witnessed a noticeable decline in spiritual fervor among believer's as a new church culture has evolved. In this new church culture, it's more common than not to see men and machines attempt to replace Sovereignty and sanctification until now, we have infantile believers with an acquired taste for all things shallow. The modern American church has normalized its "version" of Christianity until now, it seeks to attract men and women to become spectators in the arena of popular spirituality and synthetic sincerity with no strings attached, no commitment necessary. Today's popular church has tolerated sin on such a massive scale that its pulpits are more fitted for the sensational charlatans of sleaze - the purveyors of unanointed presentations and powerless pageantry - than the fiery, hungry, desperate, soul-stirring, hell-robbing, heaven-shaking preacher of righteousness.
To defeat the calamity of mediocrity and the curse of Laodicea, lukewarm living must be challenged. "Missing the mark" is not an option for the individual who desires to please God and ultimately hear Him say, "well done thou good and faithful servant." If we are going to win souls for Christ in this hour, the Church of this generation must experience her own Pentecost. This hour demands a new demonstration of the Holy Spirit. This hour demands a new fervor for prayer. This hour demands a new passion for godly pursuits. This hour demands a new zeal for God's house. This hour demands a new commitment to great stewardship. This hour demands the best from us to defeat the worst coming against us. We must love, not hate. We must work, not faint. We must pray, not sleep. We must believe, not doubt. We must have FAITH, not fear.
Oh God, how I pray that every believer will be encouraged to live an authentic Christian life! To live with such passion for Jesus, that every "function" of our life is worship to the glory of His Name. To live with such authenticity toward God, that every other voice that opposes His Word, would be seen as a lie. That we would live such authentic lives for Jesus that every non-believer would be amazed by the reality that God is for us, not against us! And, if God be for us, WHO or WHAT can be against us.
God is for you. Say it, "God is for me." Did you hear that? God is for you...and if He be for you, who can be against you. Go get em' champion. You can't be defeated. God is for you.
Pastor Hutchins