We are all capable of being spiritually lazy saints. We want to
stay off the rough roads of life, and our primary objective is to secure
a peaceful retreat from the world. The ideas put forth in these verses
from Hebrews 10 are those of stirring up one another and of keeping
ourselves together. Both of these require initiative— our willingness to
take the first step toward Christ-realization, not the initiative
toward self-realization. To live a distant, withdrawn, and secluded life
is diametrically opposed to spirituality as Jesus Christ taught it.
The true test of our spirituality occurs when we come up against
injustice, degradation, ingratitude, and turmoil, all of which have the
tendency to make us spiritually lazy. While being tested, we want to use
prayer and Bible reading for the purpose of finding a quiet retreat. We
use God only for the sake of getting peace and joy. We seek only our
enjoyment of Jesus Christ, not a true realization of Him. This is the
first step in the wrong direction. All these things we are seeking are
simply effects, and yet we try to make them causes.
“Yes, I think it is right,” Peter said, “. . . to stir you up by reminding you . . .” (2 Peter 1:13).
It is a most disturbing thing to be hit squarely in the stomach by
someone being used of God to stir us up— someone who is full of
spiritual activity. Simple active work and spiritual activity are not
the same thing. Active work can actually be the counterfeit of spiritual
activity. The real danger in spiritual laziness is that we do not want
to be stirred up— all we want to hear about is a spiritual retirement
from the world. Yet Jesus Christ never encourages the idea of
retirement— He says, “Go and tell My brethren . . .” (Matthew 28:10).
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