I’m burdened by the 15 minute daily devotion.  Everybody loves to talk about how Christianity is “not a religion but a relationship”.  You’ve heard it, probably even quoted the very same words, haven’t you?  Don’t worry, I have too.  Yet, our 15 minutes, maybe even 20 minutes on a really really good day, proves that we are still very much the religious folks we like to think we’re not.  It’s the routine, but where exactly is the “relationship” being developed?  In the 105 minutes a week, assuming we do it everyday?  Seriously?  This is a joke, but it’s what’s expected these days in order to pass as a legit Christian, right?  ”He spent 15 minutes reading his Bible…  he must be very devoted to God.”  Really?  You and I have busy schedules; don’t have time for floundering.  So the daily “devo” is properly placed on the “to do” list, and as long as we get around to it, at some point in the day, all is well, right?  If we’re feeling especially close to God we’ll have it at the start of our day, maybe over our bowl of organic granola and coffee.  I’m sure this humble and prostrate position of leaning over a bowl of cereal, while struggling to hear God’s voice over the sound of our own chewing is just what God had in mind when He said, “…  and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”  (Is. 49:7)

I don’t say this to shame anybody but to challenge you…  seek the Lord your God with ALL your heart, and ALL your soul, and ALL your mind, and ALL your strength.  15 minutes a day, or every other day, is not that.  Sorry…  it’s not.  Why is that too much to ask of ourselves?  God is not grandpa God.  He’s GOD!!!  He is to be feared.  He is to be respected, worshipped, adored, revered, glorified, exalted…  however you say it…  YES.  Sure, God is love, I don’t deny that, but know that His love is based on a matter of life and death…  had He not given us grace…  hell would be calling our name.  ”…  but you stand fast through faith.  So do not become proud, but fear.  For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.”  (Romans 11: 20,21)  God forbid we not revere our only hope.  God forbid we forget who we are without Him.  God forbid he not spare us.  Can you imagine?  What makes us so sure we’re really Christians if our prayer life is practically non-exsistent?  ”Well I have faith.”  Really?  ”Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  (Hebrews 11: 1)  A Christian with little to no prayer life doesn’t really seem to communicate “conviction”, does it?

I’m in the CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) industry.  We are in the business of marketing a product that will sell to as many people as possible…  therefore most of us do not speak of what will make us look insensitive or possibly judgmental.  However…  speaking truth is not judgmental or insensitive.  Shutting up and watching our society fall by the wayside is insensitive and judgmental.  The world needs us to be seeking God fervently and passionately…  the world needs us to be so in tune with our heavenly Fatherly that we be ready to lose our lives for Him.  I love the quote, “you’re not really living until you’ve found something worth dying for”.  Can we look at ourselves and say that we are FULLY living for Christ?  Don’t fall for the “well God is gracious, so He accepts us just the way we are”.  While that may be true…  our hearts are deceitful, as Satan is too, and we have accepted that as an excuse for complacency and laziness.  We don’t do it with our spouses, our kids, our jobs, ourselves…  why do it with our Maker?  Why?  Because our faith is weak and we don’t feed it with the proper nourishment.  Everybody wants to exercise their bodies and feed it with the right foods; yet when it comes to our souls?  Eh…  it’s OK.  God’s gracious.  Ladies…  work out all you want…  it’s still going downhill, like it or not.  Guys…  lift all the weights you want…  you’re still gonna end up looking like Schwarzenegger…  have you seen recent photos of him at the beach?  Yuck!  But don’t let your souls go.  Please…  I’m begging you.  Wake up to the reality of Christ.

Years ago…  church leadership began to take on the idea that if “I can at least get people to do 15 minutes a day with God, it’s better than nothing”.  While I understand the mentality…  we have, as a result, accepted this as the standard and have allowed ourselves to become a shallow and infertile soil for God’s word to take root.  We are NOT taking steps to allow our hearts to be ready for the teaching of God’s word simply because we don’t give Him the time of day.  My hope is not to insult but to light a fire under you, under me.  Some will want to comment and tell me I’m wrong and this blog is overly harsh.  Rather than pouring your energies into defending the flesh and shortcomings in “seek(ing) ye first the kingdom of God…”, take this opportunity to pour that energy into building your day around intimate and effective prayer time and Bible study.  I’m on your side and am in the same struggle, my friends.  Pray for me, as I’m praying for you.

Chris