Hobbies.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Hobbies. We all have them, right? Some enjoy a round of golf from time to time. Some enjoy shooting hoops with their friends. Some folks like to jump on a four-wheeler and take a long ride in the woods. Still others like to head out to the deer woods and do a little hunting. From knitting to painting, everyone has hobbies.
Hobbies are those things we don’t actually have to do to survive, but we do them anyway because we enjoy them. Most of the time we don’t do them faithfully, but rather when we get the extra time. (I understand that there are exceptions to that rule.) But for the most part, that’s the nature of a hobby. We enjoy it so much because it’s something we aren't required to do like work or school.
I’ll just come out and ask the blunt question this morning in the interest of time: is God a hobby to you? Do you spend time with Him in prayer just when you have the extra time? How about His Word – do you read it when it’s convenient? Is worship a casual, extracurricular activity to you, also? What about church itself? Is it just something you occasionally attend for your entertainment sake, when you have nothing better to do?
Here’s the thing: our relationship with God produces so much in us that we can enjoy. When we’re walking in step with Him daily, we’ve got love, joy, peace…you remember the fruit of the Spirit, right? And we live full of them if we’re committing ourselves to Him daily! But the truth of the matter is, He’s more than just a hobby – we absolutely, without a doubt, NEED Him.
Not only do we need Him for an eternal salvation, but we need Him to live the full life He longs for us to have! The world is powerful and strong. Its influences are so much stronger and mightier than we are, and that’s the honest, realistic truth. You can’t win, on your own, against the world’s system. You just can’t. It’s bigger. It’s stronger. It’ll whip you every time. And so we need Him. Period.
And so today, examine your relationship with Him. If you have never begun one by asking Him to forgive your sin and be your Savior, take a moment right now and call out to Him. Admit to Him you realize you’re a sinner. Ask Him to cleanse that sin, and ask God to apply the sacrifice of Christ’s blood on the cross to your account. If you know Him and are simply serving Him in a casual way, recommit to Him today. Ask Him to be your everything – your all in all. Then make (and keep) a daily appointment with Him to spend some time in His Word, praying, and praising Him for His constant goodness in your life.
Hobbies are great, and I think they’re healthy. But the most unwise decision in the universe is to reduce the God of the ages to a simple hobby in our lives. He’s bigger than that. So today, let Him be big in your life. The adventure begins now…


That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

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