Get Serious!

Every time I see this photo, I want to stop whatever I’m doing and make sure I’m not fooling around. Reminds me of an encounter with my tennis coach in high school.  We huddled after practice to discuss something important. I don’t remember the topic, but I must not have been paying attention.

Coach looked at me with those same eyes. He pointed at me. Not just his finger, his whole hand. He partly said and partly growled, “Get serious.”

One definition of serious is, demanding careful consideration or application. The topic of discussion that day demanded more careful consideration than I gave.

So, let me ask you.

Is there something you need to “Get Serious” about?

Have you ever neglected a chore or activity that you knew needed to be done? House maintenance may be one of those things. That task always gets me. First, I’m not talented in that area. My wife and I do simple things like change light bulbs and filters. We also handle a fair amount of cleaning, both inside and out. We do our own lawn and shrub work, power washing, gutter cleaning, and those types of things.

When it comes to electrical repairs, wood replacement (think of things like door frames that rot after so many years of water bouncing off concrete next to them), and roof repairs, not so much. I’m just not that guy. So, getting serious about making those type of repairs means coming off the hip. I’ve learned that putting those things off only lead to bigger repairs and more money.

In a similar way, we need to get serious about our relationship with God.

What would you say if someone asked if you had regular, deep relational time with God? I’m talking about the kind of time that makes a difference. Not hurried requests for help, or quickly reminding God of how hard you have it. Do you spend quality time getting to know Him? Conversing with Him? Listening to Him?

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I really like something A.W. Tozer says in his book, The Pursuit of God. He describes various great saints in Biblical times and well-known Christians in more contemporary times. All different. None following the same pattern of devotion, but one. Here’s how Tozer puts it.

“They differed from the average person in that when they felt the inward longing they did something about it. They acquired lifelong habit of spiritual response. They were not disobedient to the heavenly vision. As David put it neatly,

‘When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek’ (Psalm 27:8, KJV).”¹

They got serious about their relationship with God.

When God drew them, they responded. When He spoke, they listened. He called, they answered.

Let’s not let our relationship with God, languish like a chore we’re choosing to overlook until it’s too late. Let’s embrace the call and seek His face. There’s hope in knowing that getting serious about time with God will help us develop the full Christian experience.

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to share that experience the next time someone asks about our time with God and how serious we are about a relationship with Him?

Today’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.

¹A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God (Camp Hill, PA: Christian Publications, Inc., 1982, 1993), 62-63