Nominal Is No Good

Apr 7, 2019    Ron Barnard

As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. Mark 10:17-18 NLT

As long as we see God as good and not as God we’ll never follow Him with the passion and intention He desires and deserves.

Looking for minimum requirement is no way to experience maximum possibility!

But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” Mark 10:19-20 NLT

Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Mark 10:21-22 NLT

Don’t buy the lie that you can live a nominal Christian life.

Settling is a sure way to set yourself up for temptation and trouble.

I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! - - So be diligent and turn from your indifference. Revelation 3:15-16 & 19 NLT

God enables us to choose diligence over indifference, and passion over passivity!

I’ll choose passion over passivity all day every day!

This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 2 Timothy 1:6 NLT

Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master.
Romans 12:11 MSG

Compromise is a fire extinguisher to Godly passion.

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 NLT