Memory Verse: “The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.’ ” Isaiah 29:13 NIV
We are a creature of habit. Having a routine is not a bad thing. Yet, it’s refreshing to get out of it so you can come back to your old routine with new eyes and fresh vigour. Christians are used to many unwritten traditions like: communion, singing in church, praying at meal times. These are praise worthy things. But, we need to do them with the right heart, or otherwise doing the same thing over and over can become meaningless to some and bring boredom to others.
The same is with our vocabulary. It’s beautiful to be noticed in a crowd (at work, at school, at family events) as different, just because of your clean and spiritual vocabulary. A Christian’s vocabulary is or should be GA (General Audience). If it becomes PG 13, you might need to read a few verses on that, and review your language and jokes.
Yet, with that clean vocabulary comes a risk. The risk to use valuable- spiritual words, but be numb to their meaning. Basically, the risk of becoming a Pharisee. It’s not a title with a prestige anymore. Jesus ruined it for them, by pinpointing their focus only on outward traditions and holy vocabulary, yet their hearts were far from holiness. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.” Matthew 23:27 NIV
I will go through just a few words that might have lost their meaning for some believers, but you can continue your own list that you might need to review and revise. Each word will have a two fold view. One is the view of a tired Christian and the other is what the Bible says about it.
Righteousness
- A tired Christian’s definition: Righteousness is a difficult word to spell. It’s best displayed on Sunday mornings when we go to church.
- What the Bible says:
- Righteousness is received through faith. It’s godliness that flows from our heart because of what Christ did on the cross, not because of our own goodness. We need to live it when the alarm goes off on Monday mornings all the way through Sunday after church, when we’re not trying to impress anyone. “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile” Noah, Abraham, David, Job were considered as righteous ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness’ Romans 4:3 NIV
- In our marriage: “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrews 13:4 NIV
- At work as employees: “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:22-25 NIV
- At work as employers: “Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. ” Colossians 4:1, “…Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.” Ephesians 6:9 NIV
- In parenting: “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 NIV
- In our speech: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
- With our eyes: “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman. ” Job 31:1
Bless Ya!
- A tired Christian’s definition: A polite response to someone sneezing. A nice greeting at the end of a birthday card. (As I was writing this, my daughter sneezed. My answer was of course: ‘Bless ya!’ The timing was divine. 🙂 ) ***I won’t even get started on the American saying ‘Bless your heart, hon!’ with that sweet Alabama Southern accent. It’s cute, but the words don’t do justice to the real meaning of blessing.
- What the Bible says:
- An example of a genuine blessing. My dad, who’s a pastor, always used this blessing as a baby dedication passage. We could bless others with it in a card, or as a prayer. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:24-27 NIV
- When someone sneezes, attached to our instinct response ‘Bless ya!’, go ahead and pray for them…make the words more meaningful. “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18 NIV
- Be intentional on being a blessing to someone “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good” 2 Thessalonians 3:13 NKJV
Praying for ya!
- A tired Christian’s definition: A goodbye wish from a very spiritual believer. It sounds caring.
- What the Bible says:
- Pray for your family: Pray for your spouse, for guidance and God’s protection over their heart, mind, eyes and actions. Pray for your children, for their salvation and safety. Pray for siblings and parents. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus“. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
- Pray for the sick: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 NIV
- Pray for your enemies: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” Matthew 5:44 NIV
- Pray for authorities: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NIV
Church
- A tired Christian’s definition: A place we have to go on Sunday mornings, when most people sleep in. It’s a sacrifice I need to make as a Christian. It’s on my to-do list.
- What the Bible says:
- The church is not the bricks “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27 NIV
- Attend a local church: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV
- Going to church is not a sacrifice, it’s a privilege: “…To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” 1 Sam 15:22 NIV, “Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? ..And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:6,8 NIV,
God loves you
- A tired Christian’s definition: Used in a lot of the Sunday School songs. Preachers say that a lot too.
- What the Bible says:
- Love the imperfect. Love your spouse even if you see areas he needs to change. Love on those you don’t agree with, don’t hold hateful banners to let them know how wrong they are. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 NIV
- Share the message: Say it, sing it, live it, and tell it to others. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV
- Love with your actions: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1John 3:18 NIV
Salvation
- A tired Christian’s definition: Something I did long time ago that I can’t even remember. I haven’t shared it since.
- What the Bible says:
- Share your salvation story: It’s personal and people can relate to that. You may say, I want to be the best witness with my life, to be a living gospel, words are not necessary. Well, It’s true you have to live out your faith, so others praise God when they see your good works. But, they need to hear about your Saviour to show them you’re not ashamed. Romans 10:17 says that “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”
- Live your salvation’s story: If you have a spouse, a family member that is tired of hearing you talk about Christ, live it in front of them. “Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives” 1 Peter 3:1 NIV
- Know your salvation story. I spent my high school years far from home, in a different country. I lived with other teenagers in a dormitory. One morning as I was brushing my teeth in the girls common bathroom, I got asked a random question: ‘Why do you always smile?’ Well, reality is that they didn’t see me all the time, but my answer was ‘Because of Jesus!’ As a fifteen year-old I was unashamed to say who makes me happy. I pray I can keep the same enthusiasm to share without shame of who truly puts a smile on my face in the morning. “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” 1Peter 3:15 NIV
God’s Word
- A tired Christian’s definition: The thing you dust off when you clean the house, and you suggest it as a good read to someone who is going through challenges.
- What the Bible says:
- Believe it it’s up-to-date: Its principles are not outdated for the Facebook, high-tech generation, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 NIV
- Read it. My dad gave a challenge to me and my two handsome brothers when we were very young, to read the whole Bible from Genesis up through Revelation, with no time limit. The incentive was that whoever finishes first gets a prize. Today, there’s a debate among us siblings of who finished it first, but the prize to this day is yet to be revealed. Now, every year my dad is challenging his church to read the entire Bible, in order to get the whole picture of God’s story, which we are part of. “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8 NIV
- Memorize it. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 NIV
- Live it. “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” Psalm 119:9 NIV
God is a jealous God, who wants us passionately for Him and He wants for our passion to be Him. Let’s not be lukewarm in our faith! Let’s go back to our first love for Christ, even in our spiritual VOCABULARY.
“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first…” Revelation 2:4 NIV
Things we need to work on:
- Say what you mean and mean what you say.
- In church, pay close attention to what you sing, it may be a prayer you don’t mean.
- Review and revive your own list of words or church activities that you say or do mindlessly as a habit: eg. communion, offering, prayer.
- Praise God you can freely worship God in a church.