The Three S's - Plus One

“You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in”. Fine. They were broken off because they weren’t faithful, but you stand only by your faithfulness.” So don’t think in a proud way; instead be afraid. If God didn’t spare the natural branches, he won’t spare you either.” Romans 11:19-21 (CEB)

I feel I should make my cousin, Joyce, a part of my production team! She has imparted to me over the last few months many words of wisdom and some of them have gone on to become some of my favorite devotions. The latest statement from her cache of words of wisdom is the subject of today’s devotion.

In this conversation we were discussing the attitude of some members of church congregations, as well as questioning our own attitudes. She said, and I’m paraphrasing here, “for so long I was “seated, saved and satisfied.” At first glance, that sounds pretty good, right? I thought so too, until we looked a little closer.

Let’s look at these words as steps we all have taken in our Christian walk. If we list them, the order makes sense…

1. We are seated –that first step … we entered the church and had a seat on the pew.

2. We are saved – step number 2…we felt a pulling, tugging if you will, on our heart, in our spirit during the invitation one Sunday. We stepped out and walked down front where we prayed a prayer asking Jesus into our lives.

3. We are satisfied – third step…final step, right? We’ve completed each step and we are now satisfied with where we are. We believe in once saved, always saved, so we must be good. At this point we don’t have any more steps to complete….OR do we?

Now, does this attitude sound like the right place for our mind, hearts and souls to remain? If we contend that we are satisfied with being just satisfied do we become one of the natural branches mentioned in the verse above? We can’t and we must not stop at being just satisfied! If we do, no further growth occurs and we become what I will call the fourth S … stale!

Looking back at the three S’s and adding this last S, makes me realize that being, seated, saved, satisfied and stale is a dangerous place to be. Here we are not learning and growing in Christ and as God’s word states above, we are in danger of being pruned away for our unfaithfulness.

Friends, this is not where any of us as children of the Most High, need to find ourselves. I want to leave you with the following to consider as the closing of this devotion. It really made me think, I bet it will cause you to ponder as well.

Maybe they prayed their prayer, and they’re satisfied to sit complacent with their “get out of hell free” card. Or maybe they follow “Prozac Jesus,” who comforts them and is their BFF in a jam. But nothing about their life says that Jesus is in charge.

If we put you on trial for being a Christian, and the only admissible testimony was that of your friends at school, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

If the only evidence we considered could come from what your spouse observes of you at home, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

If your best friends at school or those in your family don’t know that you are a Christian, you probably aren’t. Who you are in the unseen, unrehearsed moments is who you are. Period.

Friend, if God removed those branches from Israel who didn’t really walk with God and submit to his lordship, won’t he also remove you?

The only Jesus is Lord Jesus—Lord of all or not Lord at all. His lordship is demonstrated not by the confession of your lips but the obedience of your life.

www.jdgreear.com