These days, my family and I are working hard to change our eating habits as well as making sure that we get out for daily exercise. It’s been a month since we’ve tried to practice 10,000 steps a day.
We also weigh ourselves everyday, in fact the other day I’ve told my kids that they need to lose a bit more weight, pointing out that they seem to be a bit chubbier than their peers.
At this point my daughter asked me what my current height and weight are, and after some googling, she claims that I’m also overweight. To which I replied, “Compared to people my age I’m pretty average.” “Not according to BMI (Body Mass Index) you’re not,” were her words.
I was fairly certain that my body was in the average range, especially compared to those around me. I don’t have a spare tire around my waist, I get regular checkups and I’m not in danger of any chronic illness. But based on the BMI, I am overweight, and I do need to look after myself more.
Just because I “feel” great and have no symptoms of illness, doesn’t mean I’m perfectly healthy. This is the same with our spiritual life. Once I start comparing myself to others, I feel that I’ve lived a healthier, holier spiritual life. Sometimes this leads to a dangerous notion of feeling sinless.
This however is not the case. When we measure ourselves according to the scripture, we are full of sin and full of shortcomings. We are to repent and have not to judge others on their spiritual status.
God’s standard is very high, but that’s not always the reason why we feel it is so. Sometimes it’s because we have veered so far away from God’s presence, and for this reason we’ve fallen short of His glory. God and sin are polar opposites. When we are closer to one, we are distant from the other.
1st Century Christians and martyrs weren’t necessarily the most well educated or knowledgeable in theology. It’s because they took God’s words literally they were able to obtain certain levels of faith, which they later were able to pass down the generations.
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The things I cherish, the words I say, the posture of my heart towards my relationship with the Lord is the true identity of who I am in Christ.
Instead of taking in the scripture as a whole, we tend to cherry pick the verses and messages that are useful to us, in many cases the ones that are advantageous to the conflicts or predicaments we are faced with at that moment. We cannot grow in our faith if our faith exists solely for the purposes of serving ourselves.
To love God is to know Him. Those who take scripture as they are the true believers of Christ. Not my will but His will be done, not to be admired by the world but to be led by the Holy Spirit and believing in the fulfillment of His promises, that is the attitude of a true Christian.
Whether we’re worshipping, praying or just going on about our day, I pray that we will constantly be alert to God’s standards instead of ours, to only seek His Kingdom, not the world’s.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.”
(Luke 12: 34-36)
