I was watching “This is It” (Michael Jackson’s unfinished concert) with my son. The dancers for this concert were carefully selected from thousands of hopeful applicants. Despite being the best among them, they would practise those dance moves for hours everyday. If I have not heard wrongly, it was something to the tune of ten hours everyday. It is no wonder that they were fantastic to watch when they danced with MJ.

I wonder how many minutes we put in each day to read the Word of God? I would like to imagine hours but I was trying very hard to be realistic. Along with that, how much effort do we put in to live a life worthy of the Gospel? Or what does that even mean? Will others be amazed at the way we try to please our Lord? Or will they see us as no different from pagans?

These are very difficult questions. I know they cause pain to many of us. Can we not just talk about ‘grace abound’ and become sin insensitive? Or about monetary blessings in abundance without sacrifice? That would make being a Christian so easy and so much more enjoyable. Why must this “stupiuck” fellow ask such hard questions to cause us pain?

For not so important things in our lives, we are willing to sacrifice a lot and I mean, a lot. I remember a time when I played badminton 3 times a day, eight days a week just to hone my skills to compete at a high level. I actually sleep with my racquets beside my bed. Am I as fervent in trying to please God? I really dare not think about it.  I only dare say that I do try, albeit struggling but trying. Of course there are those who spend many hours engaging in meaningless, mindless games on the computers or fruit phones.

The apostle Paul mentioned  that while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as  it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8).

Maybe we can start working at it, just maybe….

 

 

God bless!