Are You Serious About Your Faith?

Maureen Dowd in an article titled “Focused and Always Ready to Inspire” from The New York Times writes, “In an interview with Denzel Washington, it noted that the actor has been getting more explicit about his Christian convictions. In 2019 Washington called himself “a vessel of God.” Privately over coffee with the interviewer Washington added:

“The enemy is the inner me. The Bible says in the last days — I don’t know if it’s the last days, it’s not my place to know — but it says we’ll be lovers of ourselves. The No. 1 photograph today is a selfie, “Oh, me at the protest.” “Me with the fire.” “Follow me.” “Listen to me.”

We’re living in a time where people are willing to do anything to get followed. What is the long or short-term effect of too much information? It’s going fast and it can be manipulated obviously in a myriad of ways. And people are led like sheep to slaughter.

Don’t play with God. Don’t play with God. You hear what I said? Don’t play with God. You heard what I said? Don’t play with God.”

Then the interviewer mentions that Washington urged her to download and use a daily Bible reading app. Washington said. “You have to fill up that bucket every morning. It’s rough out there. You leave the house in the morning. Here they come, chipping away. By the end of the day, you’ve got to refill that bucket.””

It is always encouraging to hear that people like Denzel Washington, who have such a large platform, are speaking out and affirming a serious devotion to Christ and His Word. It is also a reminder to take our Faith and devotion to Christ just as seriously. Let me suggest four ways to do just that…

1.Spend time in God’s Word… as Denzel said, “fill up the bucket every morning.” The Bible says, “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

2.Talk to God… that’s prayer, and it is the key to staying connected to the voice of God. The Bible says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

3.Gather with the People of God… that is worship, and while we can worship privately, we also need to worship corporately by gathering with the congregation at church. The Bible says, “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25)

4.Obey God in Everything… that is discipleship, and it happens by complete surrender of our will to the will of God. The Bible says, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)

I believe that more than ever before the need to live Seriously for Christ is upon us. I believe that we are close to a move of God unlike anything we have seen in decades. So, for our part, let’s get serious for God and remember that He is always trying to take us someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

Image credit: