When I was an "Almost Christian"

Before I was how I am now....I was what I would like to call and "almost christian." (Thanks Pastor Ken Peters @ Covenant Spokane for putting this term in my head (from John Wesley)) I really was so consumed by desire for OTHER things besides God and serving Him. Focusing on worldly things led me to worry, worry, worry and be the MEGA-CONTROL-FREAK! One Sunday at service, this message was given and it spoke to me. I needed to be more fruitful.....

Posted by Ken Ortize on March 18, 2011

…the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. (Mark 4:7,18-19)

Of all Jesus’ parables, the Sower is probably the best known and most appreciated. Recounted in Matthew, Mark & Luke, it explains how different people respond to the Gospel message.

First he describes the response of the non-Christian:

1) There is the person who hears but does not understand. Like seed on stony soil, the Word is unable to penetrate and takes no root, and therefore produces no fruit (Matthew 7:16).

2) Then there is the person who is entertained by the message, but as soon as it costs them something, they fall away. They too have no root and therefore no fruit. Jesus then follows with two kinds of Christians: One is fruitful, the other is unfruitful.

3) The unfruitful Christian is described as being like seeds choked out in a bed of weeds. The weeds are “the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things.” These folks have some fruit, but not much.

4) Lastly there is the fruitful believer.

How does the fruitful believer differ from the unfruitful? In their desires. The fruitful desire to make it their life’s mission, spreading the Gospel message.

But if one’s mission is to find my best life now, then I am not going to sink my roots deeply into Jesus. That requires sacrifices that I am probably not prepared to make (Matthew 16:24). Instead, we are controlled by a “desire for other things”, A life different from the one Jesus has for us.

No wonder so many Christians are sad and unfulfilled. They have been spending their time fulfilling the wrong mission. We want to write our own story, rather than telling the Jesus story.

We all want to be successful. Is your definition of success anything like God’s? Your definition may help you succeed in this world; but in the end you may be a total failure in the one thing that matters the most: Making Him known to the world by telling His story (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15).

So, How do you define success? What is your life’s mission? Make sure the ladder you are climbing is leaning against the right wall.

After hearing this, it really made me re-examine my life and all that I was holding to be "important." I had been counting on myself, and not listening to God's word and promises. I re-prioritized, and low and behold.....I should have been trusting God and focusing on him all along...I would have had so much more peace through the storms.