Why Settle for Less of God?

​For many years Christians have begun to settle for less of God.  Less church, less Bible study, less prayer time, less holiness, and less seeking God.  Why is this now become the new standard within what is supposed to be the Body of Christ?  Jesus Christ did not settle for less even knowing what the plan of God was for His life.  He did ask that the cup could be passed from Him, yet even in the same prayer, not His will but God’s will be done in His life (Matthew 26:39; Matthew 26:42; Mark 14:36).  To be Christ-like or a Christian, should reflect the goal of not settling for less of God but more of Him within their lives.  When Christians choose to settle for less in their lives they are allowing more room for the spiritual enemies of their Christian faith to have a foothold (Ephesians 4:27; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 2:11).  They are saying to God and His enemies there is a vacancy for something else to have access to what is supposed to be God’s.  This settling means more than what is on the surface level.  A drawing back signifies that selfishness, ungodliness, and other things have more importance to that person than God (Hebrews 10:38-39; Luke 9:62; 1 John 1:6).  Even within churches, there may be a settling for less truth of God being spoken, less opportunity for God to move among the people as He desires, or less of God in general and more room for carnality of culture or gratification of fleshly desires.  John the Baptist declared, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).  This is the person Jesus declared to be very important to the kingdom of God (Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:28).  There should be more believers like John the Baptist who are willing to declare they will only settle for less of self and less of flesh and not settle for less of God or the things of God.  This prepares the way for Jesus Christ to enter and make an impact not only on that person’s life but those around them who will allow Jesus to touch their lives (John 1:23).  Christians, especially in these last days, must understand the importance of God is needed now more than ever.  Settling for less of God sets people up for failure who are looking for the truth of God.  Instead of offering more of God, they are offering gifts for attending church, coffee and doughnuts to satisfy the flesh, less truth of God to better their lives, and more culturally relevant things to cater to the carnality of people.  People, and not just Christians, need the Word of God to convict them of sin by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8), the power of God to move in their lives, and fellowship centered around Jesus Christ as Lord and Master for them to find the peace, joy, love, and other fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) they are looking for in their lives.  May more Christians, especially pastors and preachers, step up to give others more of Jesus and not settle for less of God and less in God.  This mindset benefits no one.  Let’s change the region by allowing God to be the center of the lives of the people not settling for less in God to only place His label upon people as a false claim for fire insurance on the day of judgment.  This is the time everyone needs more of God not less.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church visit agcsparta.org.