When my sons were little I got them a train set for Christmas. We set up the track on a big table in our basement. The boys could hardly wait until the project was completed to get their train running around the track. It was great fun for them and I have to admit I enjoyed it also; watching the train circle its way through our little train town. Nothing goes smoothly for long, however. Our beloved train began developing the nasty habit of becoming disconnected from the engine. I think something was wrong with the hitch that allowed it to become separated when it rounded a turn.
Becoming disconnected is not just a problem for toy trains; it is also a serious problem that followers of Christ need to beware of. Our lifestyle should follow closely our belief system. Our doctrine and our practice should be coupled together. As the cars on a train track are connected to the engine so should our day to day living be connected to the truth of God. Yet we can allow ourselves to become disconnected at times.
Jonah was disconnected. In chapter 3 Jonah went through the city of Nineveh and preached to the people. He had the right message; he had the right belief system. He believed in the love of God and also the justice of God. In chapter 3 he had the right words but in chapter 4 he had the wrong attitude. He was angry, pouting, discouraged and blamed God. Jonah had a disconnect between his belief system and his attitude.
God wants us to not only believe right but to also behave right. One of the reasons that many are turned off to the message of Christ is that they know too many disconnected Christians. A disconnected Christian is one who is careless with his words, carnal in his walk, and selfish in his attitude. Our God expects us to live a life of honesty, holiness, compassion, kindness, integrity and Christlikeness.
I think that after a while of trying to fix our train, I finally boxed it up and put it on the shelf. Will God have to put us on the shelf? He desires to repair the separation. He wants our faith and our practice to maintain that strong link. Have we become disconnected?
Becoming disconnected is not just a problem for toy trains; it is also a serious problem that followers of Christ need to beware of. Our lifestyle should follow closely our belief system. Our doctrine and our practice should be coupled together. As the cars on a train track are connected to the engine so should our day to day living be connected to the truth of God. Yet we can allow ourselves to become disconnected at times.
Jonah was disconnected. In chapter 3 Jonah went through the city of Nineveh and preached to the people. He had the right message; he had the right belief system. He believed in the love of God and also the justice of God. In chapter 3 he had the right words but in chapter 4 he had the wrong attitude. He was angry, pouting, discouraged and blamed God. Jonah had a disconnect between his belief system and his attitude.
God wants us to not only believe right but to also behave right. One of the reasons that many are turned off to the message of Christ is that they know too many disconnected Christians. A disconnected Christian is one who is careless with his words, carnal in his walk, and selfish in his attitude. Our God expects us to live a life of honesty, holiness, compassion, kindness, integrity and Christlikeness.
I think that after a while of trying to fix our train, I finally boxed it up and put it on the shelf. Will God have to put us on the shelf? He desires to repair the separation. He wants our faith and our practice to maintain that strong link. Have we become disconnected?
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