CONSCIOUS CHRISTIAN LIFE
We know that God does not reveal himself austere and harsh, but He shows himself with love and patience to us. This fact, however, does not authorize us to speak to Him in any way, without reverence and respect. Jesus taught us to call Him the Father, which indicates that He wishes to relate to us in a fraternal context. So we can see Him as a friend, but that doesn't allow us to be careless about the way we talk or relate to Him. God is the Father (Matthew 6:9), is love (1 John 4:8), but he is also LORD (Exodus 4:15).
Sometimes we make high declarations of love for God, in prayer or in the songs, but we neglect in actions, attitudes, in practical life. Jesus said, “whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me... You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 14:21;15.14). We then need to assess whether our spiritual life does not have a purely superficial meaning. We talk a lot about spiritual things, but we don't act as we speak. We must take care not to act, in the relationship with God, with levity, folly and irreflection.
Spiritual life is much more than singing and getting emotional in the church. God, speaking to the people of Israel through the prophet Isaiah, said, “these people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely rules they have been taught” (Isaiah 29:13). Worship, much more than talking and singing, is an attitude of life and love for others. The Apostle Paul said to the Ephesians: “as a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (4:1,2).
Often, even though we live Christian life thoughtlessly and without depth, we talk a lot and have a high concept about us. This reminds us of Peter and the other disciples on the mount of Olives. Jesus said to them, “you will all fall away...” (Mark 14:27) then Peter quickly said, “even if all fall away, I will not... Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you” (Mark 14:29,31). And all the others said the same”. Moments later, according to evangelist Mark, came the envoys of the high priest, with a multitude, to arrest Jesus. Then all the apostles abandoned him and fled (14.50).
We are quick to speak, but slow in thinking and reflecting our actions. Therefore, we speak what we should not before God and others. Thus, it is worth noting what the author of Ecclesiastes said: “guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on Earth, so let your words be few. A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it” (5:1-5).
Antônio Maia – M.Div.
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