The dictionary tells us complacency means to be “extremely content”. From a Christian perspective it would be as if there was nothing new to learn about God. You slowly become comfortably numb in your self-contained tomb of religiosity. It is so easy to fall into the trap of complacency. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
You CAN be at peace and achieve contentment thru your relationship with Christ. However, that type of contentment comes from resting in the arms of the Lord, not ‘resting on your laurels’. * When complacent, you become no threat to the enemy, just as you were before you knew Christ.
I have often said that our relationship with the Lord must be cultivated, as with a garden. It takes work and an earnest desire to know Him better. With some folks it is twice as hard because of their lack of ability to block out the outside world. I resemble that remark. My concentration has always been horrible. I pray for that which I need concentration-wise and as a result find that the ONLY time I’m able to concentrate at all is when I’m writing about God. So I certainly understand why some folks struggle, but with God’s help complacency can be averted.
It is God’s desire for us to succeed in all areas of our life. For that to happen we must tap into the source itself. Allow the Holy Spirit to have his way in you. It is imperative that we become lesser as He becomes greater in our lives. We must surrender to God. Without surrendering to the will of God for our lives we will be like a rudderless ship on a stormy sea.
Living for God is far from a complacent experience. Of course, having said that, it is what you make it. The ‘free choice’ we’ve been given came at a monumental cost, not to us, but to Christ. We must realize the depth of pain Jesus suffered for you and me ... willingly. With no hesitation Christ endured the savage brutality that was levied against him on his way to Golgotha’s hill. We need to fixate on all of that. The passion of Christ. See it in your mind’s eye and realize the immense price that was paid to not just cover up our sin, like a coat of paint, but completely and for all time eradicate it. God will NEVER throw past sins up in your face ever again; it is the devil who excels at that.
Living for God can be exciting, and it is meant to be. There’s no chaos, only opportunities to bless others and as a result bless yourselves in the process. The thought of complacency disappears when you do for others. That has to be a deliberate action, not something you feel you must do to please God, but rather a concerted effort to escape yourself and live for others. This is how you can allow the Holy Spirit to speak thru you to those who are in need. You can be the door that leads people to a life with Christ.
So cast off the thought of becoming complacent in your faith and allow yourself to be used by your Heavenly Father to expand His Kingdom. While it may not always be easy, it will prove to be well worth it.
Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.
In His Name & for His Glory,
RL Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
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