Lethargic - affected with lethargy; drowsy, sluggish, apathetic
What is affecting the masses of Jesus' Disciples in our world today? The word lethargy comes to mind and in it's true meaning hits the nail squarely on the head. The apathetic condition of the church in our world is just a pathetic mess. If Jeremiah or Isaiah would come back to life and offer one of God's Prophecies we would cut them up and put them in a suitcase and ship them off. Why? Because to whom the offense hits the most the most hurt and offense it will land. You might say, "Oh David you are overreacting to situations around you in our world and you just need to chill and let it take it's course." You might be right....but I doubt it!! Go out on a job and do your work and at the end of the work's day volunteer to do more work to help out for no pay. You will be put in a mental institution for being crazy. Here's how apathy or lethargy works. We react to the situations around by looking at how they will directly affect us. If they will cause us to have to change and do more we will set our standard to the level it will affect us the least. This has a tumbling affect that over time will set a standard that affects the masses. Look at the way our country has reacted to a lack of "quality" jobs in the work place. Our leaders think that giving people money for no work will fix the problem, but in the end it makes the problem worse!!! This is not a new problem by the way. The writer of Proverbs wrote to this very subject by saying in Proverbs 26:16 "The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly." We have numerous people that know that the best way to fix our economic situation is to work and earn, but the one person who receives this help and doesn't really want to work anyway will trump them with "But I can't work" and their desire to be a sluggard sets a standard in their life for everything in their future plans. In other words, excuses!!! Of course, we know how to make excuses and excuses are the make up of the lethargic lifestyle. Excuses come from a craving to get without giving. In Proverbs 21:25 the writer says, "The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work." Wow, the death of him? Yes!! I hear Pro athletes say, "I play for the love of the game." I say, take away their salary and see how much they love the game!!
The devil's weapon of mass destruction is a lethargic mind and lifestyle. I say mass destruction because that kind of attitude is synergetic at it's roots and the tumbling affect it has builds and builds until it has become the norm. As Disciples our attitude should be the opposite of lethargic. We should be active!! Not to get in better with God, that will never be the end result. But to live out a sincere love for God and in that love find a heart that wants to serve like Jesus did. The writer of Proverbs also says in 6:9 "How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?" When is the time to get working and serving in this great kingdom work? NOW!! Don't pray about it, but go about doing it in an attitude of prayer, asking God to empower you and equip you for service. Paul wanted to visit Rome and in Romans 1:8-10 he told them they were in his prayers all the time. Paul didn't sit around and do nothing until God answered his prayer. He was serving all the time as he waited for God to answer his prayers. He was active!!!
The best cure for the lethargy we see all around us is to get active. This will give a shot of cure to all who come in contact with you and your life of activity will spread even faster than the lethargy we see in our world today. Jesus is the cure for the lethargy today and the words of Paul in his letter to Philemon in chapter 1 verse 6 still ring true. "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ." Take the cure with you wherever you go by being active in your faith. It's in your blood!! Make that Jesus' blood!!
The Pilgrimage continues.....
David Warren
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