Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - What Happened to the Joy - #8288

Monday, June 8, 2009

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I don’t remember a lot of facts they taught me in science class, but I remember the experiments. Like the day our teacher had us illuminate a light bulb the hard way–by feverishly turning this crank to generate some voltage–until finally the bulb just started to flicker to life. I’m thinking, “There’s got to be an easier way.” Yeah, like just plugging it into an outlet!

I’m Ron Hutchcraft. Now, I’ve tried living for Jesus and serving Jesus both ways, by plugging into the main power source and by cranking it out. One produces joy, the other frustration and fatigue; one comes from a heart that’s warm toward Jesus, the other from a heart that’s turning cold. Apparently, I’m not the first to drift from doing it by faith to doing it by flesh.

The Bible says, “After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” (Galatians 3:3 ). See, it’s the difference between striving to do work for God and relaxing to let God work through you. If you’ve lost the passion, if what used to be from the heart has become mechanical, it’s time to ask, “Has my personal time with Jesus become optional rather than non-negotiable? Am I reading my Bible just for information or for transformation?” It may be time to go back to the cross and surrender again, and fall in love again with the One whose love for you kept Him on that cross. Stop cranking it out and let it be Him shining through you again.

There’s a lot more spiritual encouragement at a website called ALifeThatMatters.org. I hope you’ll meet us there later today.

This radio program references: Galatians 3:3