Old News

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.  The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (I Timothy 1:12-17 NIV)

Have you ever noticed when you attend worship services and the congregation is singing, how many people there are whom look bored, lips barely moving, if at all?  Perhaps you have been one of those.  I know I have in times past.  It’s as if our hearts become hardened to the greatness of God and His wonderful love for us.  It just doesn’t get us excited.  Perhaps it’s because we heard it so often that, instead of being Good News, it’s old news.

I see this often in college students.  Many have grown up going to church and being involved in the children’s ministry and youth groups.  They have literally heard about God, Jesus, and salvation all of their lives.  

It is natural that we tire of things after awhile.  The fact is most things become boring eventually by repetition.  The employees at any fast food restaurant soon tire of the food because they usually eat it every day. That brand new car we were so excited about soon becomes just our means to get around because we’ve driven it so much.  The new apartment or house that we couldn’t wait to move into in time becomes just a place to live.  

This doesn’t mean we necessarily lose appreciation for things; they just become less exciting over time.  This is life and not always necessarily bad, particularly when it involves food or material things, but relationships are a different matter.  Boredom is deadly to them.  Marriages and friendships rarely can survive if the participants find each other boring.   The same can be said of our relationship with the Lord.  If we are bored with Him, we will struggle with growing in our relationship with Him. Marriages can require date nights, weekend retreats, or even counseling to get them back on track.  Friends may have to sit down and re-define their expectations or just part ways.  But the way to put the excitement back into our relationship with the Lord is to acknowledge the depth of our sinfulness and the breadth of His mercy.

Notice how Paul, having reflected on his life and how the Lord showed him mercy, ended his comments with a doxology.  “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”  This was preceded by a heart-felt confession—“I am the worst of sinners.”  Because Paul saw the depth of his own sinfulness, his excitement overflowed at the recognition of the Lord’s mercy toward him.

Today, if you are finding it difficult to get excited about who God is and what He has done for you, take some time to reflect on who you really are and the depth of your sinfulness.  And then remember His love for you—a woeful sinner—took Him to the Cross.  Then, like Paul, your heart can be filled with awe and excitement at the sheer breadth of the Lord’s mercy. And the old news can become good again.

© Jim Musser 2014