Mediocrity by definition is averageness. Basically this means being okay in a certain area of life and being okay with that. Mediocrity, in my eyes, ranks in the top 3 of issues on the hearts of today's believer. Mediocrity can destroy hopes of obtaining a goal, demolish a family, and even break up the ministry of an individual and a church.
HOW IT STARTS
There are many reasons for mediocrity but if I could pin-point one it would be laziness. As we discussed in Issue #1, we are sinful creatures. As sinful creatures the only way to redemption is Jesus. So when we accept this redemption and salvation He demands and commands us to live like the redeemed. This takes effort. As we were lost in our sin we could do what we wanted and do it when we wanted, but at the moment of salvation we were set apart for the purpose of Christ. My point? Mediocrity begins when we get tired of running the race and slip towards the back of the pack.
BEING OKAY WITH BEING OKAY
Mediocrity is dangerous. Within mediocrity is a serious lie. If you have fallen to mediocrity at one point or another(you have) you have believed this lie. Mediocrity says that God saved you to be comfortable. That it is okay to "just get by".
Inside of mediocrity is complacency. Believers who struggle with mediocrity have no or little desire to grow. They are okay with rotting in the pews every week while feeling no passion for the Lord that they profess to be saved by. Mediocre teams do not win championships. Mediocre actors do not bring tears of enjoyment to audience's eyes. And believers with mediocrity on the heart do not answer the call of Christ effectively nor productively.
KILLER OF PASSION
Mediocrity has murdered the passion of many. It has taken hearts captive and put them to work for the glory of everything but Christ. Through this death of passion, habits are born. Those who once broke sinful habits begin to try and dip their toes in the waters of this world. Mediocrity tells believers that is okay to watch less than appropriate TV shows. It tells wives that flirting with men at work is harmless and tells husbands that lusting over women passing by is decent. It twists young lust and calls it young love. Mediocrity destroys every bit of purity that was in an activity. Mediocrity is not of God. Mediocrity is from hell.
NO OKAY
The word okay should not be part of a believer's vocab. We proclaim to serve a great, and holy God so why not serve Him in that way. There is no okay when it comes to serving Christ. You either are, or you are not. The Lord says that you are either with him or against him. It is that simple. When we fall to mediocrity we are not doing anything to glorify to God. What team is a believer who is okay with being okay on? There is no gray area when it comes to following Christ.
THE CURE
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" says Colossians 3:23. Who do you serve? Is it Jesus? Then why not serve as if so. There is no quick fix to mediocrity but the remedy is simple. Just serve Christ the way he deserves to be served. Do not accept giving anything less than all you have to the Lord. Do not accept okay. A TV show, even a commercial, comes on that does not bring glory to God in the highest? Turn it. Need in the church or of another? Answer it. Have Jesus as Lord and Savior? Serve Him!
THE CHALLENGE
I challenge you to refuse being mediocre. Today make the committment to run the race with endurance and rise up. Live as a true believer, in spirit and in truth. Accept no lust, no pleasure, and no gossip. Be committed to becoming what Christ saved you to be so that you may bring glory and honor to His Name.
No comments:
Post a Comment