“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.” (Matthew 7:13-14 MSG)
According to Oswald Chambers, temptations often come to us in the form of shortcuts. We rarely do things we know to be wrong or evil. However, if we can justify our choices, if we can think of them as moral compromises that are necessary to achieve our goals--then we may be lured into all sorts of transgressions.
In order to recognize the bait, we have to be aware of our secret desires. Do you have a fondness for admiration, comfort, security, or validation? Or maybe you want to avoid guilt, fear, or humiliation. Every day, we are presented with opportunities to take shortcuts to meet these personal goals. When we approach them, we don’t see them as falling into temptation or giving in to weakness.
Many of us desire to be close to God. Every day, we are presented with shortcuts to this goal--formulaic religion that guarantees a better life in this world and the next; a part-time commitment to God that brings full benefits; popular methods and easy access to the Divine. Do not fall for these temptations--these shortcuts will lead you astray.
Commitment to God is not a side trip that you can take on your way to reaching your own goals. The path of faith is long and requires total devotion, discipline, and attentiveness. It necessitates surrender. It demands humility. It is contingent on Grace.
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