The other day I heard a woman on the radio give her testimony of the radio station based on what the Christian station did for her. She said on her way to work was her only “God time” and so she so appreciated the station because she could get her “God time” in quick before work.
I was thinking wow! I couldn't survive on that, I need a whole lot more of God than that, and especially if I was going to work out in the world.
It made me think of an article I read that morning. It intrigued me because of the man's descriptive phrase for what I always call hearsay. Meaning -having someone else get to know Jesus for you. Or you could say -living off of what someone else thinks/ living off of someone else's faith. The man in the article I was reading called this practice -second hand faith.
I hadn't thought much of his phrase until inspired by Jesus to write this today. I started thinking about that woman again and how she got her quick fix of Jesus on the way to work. I was thinking how lost she was, yes is was a good start, but so far from what Jesus wants. He does not want to be squeezed into our day, but He wants to be the core of our day.
Thinking more about this phrase I knew Jesus was telling me that this mans phrase was a perfect description of how a lot of people treat Him (Jesus). He is just not that important to them. They don't want to take the time to have their own relationship with Jesus, so they just live by what someone else said.
The woman on the radio is living on -second hand faith. She didn't take time to get her own faith, but she was going to spend her day and maybe every day, on someone else's faith. I mean that’s great that she at least is seeking God, but that is scarce, and not at all a personal relationship with Jesus- which is the basis of our salvation.
This is where Jesus showed me it is like going to a thrift store and getting something used. Hey I wore this a hundred times or more, it’s kind of worn out, but now you can have it. Why do you want someone else's revelation? Revealed knowledge that worked for them personally, that was given to them for their situation, why do you want it. What about going to your Source and getting your own?
Jesus said that is why so many Christians go to church and sit in the pew and are not be moved by the Spirit of God when He shows up. They are not looking to God, but they are looking to the man at the pulpit. That is-second hand faith.
God is in the church but they can’t see Him or feel Him because they are not in communion with Him, but with the person who is giving them their used faith. Yes they are moved and inspired but by a man, and yes God is moving through the man, but then what happens when they leave church? The man does not go home with them.
That is why the world is in the condition they are in, they are going to the thrift store instead of getting on their knees and getting first hand faith, their revelation first hand.
A personal relationship is just that -personal. Jesus said My sheep know My voice and they won’t follow the voice of a stranger.
John 10:27 The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. AMPC
Yes is it good to get a good message on the radio, at church, on television, from a devotion, but the original message must be from Jesus Himself. Then those other messages will just make what Jesus said to you that much more meaningful. Many people are not convinced Jesus would talk to them and so they live in this lala kind of thinking. Like; “Wow that is weird I think Jesus might have said something to me.” Of course He did, that is the plan to hear Him and follow Him, not a man.
John 10:27 The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand. AMPC
If you never have asked Jesus to come and live on the inside of you, do so. He said He is waiting, knocking, at the door of your heart wanting to be invited in. All you have to do is invite Him and He will move in (Revelation 3:20). Then it is up to you to cultivate that relationship with Him. He will be your Shepherd, all you have to do is follow Him. That will take time. He is a Person and a relationship with a person takes time and attention. Thus, get up a couple hours early in the morning and be with Him. Read your Bible because He is His Word (John 1:1) and that is how you get to know Him.
Let Him know you are committed to Him and your life will never be the same, and you will never have to live on hearsay again. You may eventually not even have to rush to that job every morning? Seek Him and you will Find Him (Mathew 7:7)!
lovelee<3