For a lot of Christians, it’s the same: Go to church on Sunday, pray before meals and maybe go to a Bible study in the middle of the week. There is nothing wrong with any of this as a routine, but if we’re not careful, that’s all it may amount to: a routine.

As followers of Christ, we are called to follow His footsteps and live like Him, not to establish a religious routine. We are called to follow Him in earnest, not to create a weekly checklist of obligations that we can check off so we can consider ourselves “good Christians.” 

We have a spiritual life. And we need to make it a priority.

Making your spiritual life a priority

“I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot — far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.

“Here’s what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that’s been through the refiner’s fire. Then you’ll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You’ve gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see.”

• Revelation 3:15-18 (MSG)

Can you believe Jesus said that? He is known for being loving and accepting, so it seems harsh to read Him talking about calling someone stale and making Him want to vomit. Scholars can bicker all day about whether He literally means He is disappointed in someone or is trying to make a point, but either way, it’s important for us to get that point: We need to make our spiritual life a priority.

Whether you’re a Christian or someone who is curious, we all have that deep sense of longing within us to connect with something greater. Jesus is calling us. We can spend time in the Word and root ourselves in it. We can strive to learn what it says and remember it in our hearts. We can strive to live like Jesus because we want to be like Him, not because we want to tick some religious checkboxes.

Today is the day to start seeking God and finding out who Jesus is. Pray. Surround yourself with a fellowship of believers. Pursue Christ and let Him change your life and work wonders through it! 

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