“ Maintaining Spiritual Fervor"

         Wouldn’t it be great if waking up early in the morning and going for a 5 mile jog was such an easy thing to do?  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if waking up early in the morning and going to early morning prayer service was second nature to all of us, in other words, it comes so readily and easily to us with minimal resistance?  Wouldn’t it be ideal if eating all the tasty foods—normally all the unhealthy, fatty, greasy, salty foods—would be beneficial for our bodies?  But the truth is that waking up and going back to bed instead of going for a jog is much, much easier.  The reality is that we’d rather be at Bedside Baptist Church instead of literally going to church for early morning prayer.  The fact is that all the great tasting foods are not that healthy and the healthy foods don’t necessarily make our taste buds jump for joy.  But that’s life, isn’t it?  No pain, no gain.  So it is with our spiritual health and fervor.  We want to be spiritually fit, healthy and fervent.  But wishing for it won’t get you there.  Wanting to pray doesn’t necessarily lead to us pray. 

         Let me just encourage all of us, including us pastors, during these summer months when we tend to take it easy and go on vacations, to rest spiritually and physically but not get lazy nor lethargic.  For practical purposes, let me encourage us to follow the 3 D’s of Christian Discipleship.  First is DESIRE.  We have to want it.  We have to desire and long for spiritual fervency.  What do you desire more this summer?  Vacation trips and no Discipleship Training (oh, I can hear the sighs of relief) or getting on fire for God?  All of us probably have the desire.  But desiring a goal doesn’t cut it; it doesn’t get us there.  Second is DISCIPLINE.  No matter how physically fit we are, if we stop exercising and working out, we will eventually and inevitably get out of shape.  Usually summer days are days when we sort of hang loose and let things slide.  So if we also slowly but surely let the little things slide in our spiritual disciplines (like prayer, Quiet Time in the Word, worship, acts of service), we can find ourselves physically rested but spiritually unfit.  Third is DUTY.  Sometimes, the desire isn’t there and also the discipline isn’t enough.  This is when we must realize our duty to be Christ’s followers.  I’m NOT preaching legalism at all.  Don’t misunderstand.  But we can’t follow Christ just by our feelings/emotions and circumstances.  There is a duty component.  Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Lk. 9:23)
        

Let me encourage all of us to get refreshed this summer by staying fervent, and even perhaps on fire (hotter) spiritually this summer for God.  Let me share the words of the great American author, Jack London:

"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."

Pastor Pastor Jeff Hyun
Associate Pastor
Sa-Rang Community Church