Every Sunday I go through it. I call it a hangover. I’ve never had the other kind. Kind of hard to do that when you don’t take a drink to start with. 🙂
I had one yesterday. I went to the Y early (8:00) to work out and when I was done I had the hangover. It was the good kind. You know…the adrenaline is pumping and you feel like something good happened. I even joked with someone who was just getting there about feeling good I was done. I had reached my limit physically for that workout and there was a settled feeling that came over me. Shower. Eat. Study. Nap. Oops where did that come in? 🙂
I’ve have one when my bike ride is finished. An a-a-a-a-a-h feeling. A sense of accomplishment. An adrenaline rush from having spent myself. Shower. Eat. Work. Nap. Again, where did that come from? 🙂
I get one every Sunday. I expend myself emotionally. Physically. Mentally. Spiritually. Eat. (No shower needed). Study. Nap. Well, sometimes but not today.
I’m a bit melancholy right now. I’m not sad from any event. I’m not down from life. I expended a lot of spiritual energy this morning after preaching twice and I think I know what it is.
The subject matter. Heaven is fine to preach on. I’m not a fan of preaching on Hell. It isn’t because I pound the pulpit and scream and froth at the mouth. I don’t. But I’m melancholy because I have this sneaking suspicion there were some there today who needed to come to Christ but will keep putting it off. It’s days like today that I wish I was like the Hulk when he grabbed Loki, slammed him back and forth a few times, and then said, “Puny god.” Loki just whimpered. That was after Loki tried to tell the Hulk he was a god.
There are people I just want to grab and say, “What are you waiting for? Don’t you realize you are playing with your life, taking a risk that you really don’t want to gamble on?”
When I feel like this I can only imagine what God must be feeling after waiting and waiting. The Bible says that God desires all men to repent and to come to a knowledge of the truth. His heart must break when time after time people reject Him.
I’m not concerned about my eternity. I know where I will be. I do get melancholy over others. May I never lose that fire for the lost. May I never lose that desire to see people come to Jesus. May I never lose that hunger to feel God’s pain.
I closed the sermon with this song. Hope you enjoy it.
Powerful song…
It is hard to understand what holds people back… perhaps they feel they need to “fix” a behavior before they can take that step… Perhaps it is a past that continues to haunt… Perhaps it is trust… Perhaps it is a lack of desire to change…
Then I remember… what holds me back?
What keeps me from being all in? What keeps me from moving forward like I think I should. Probably much of the same reasons.
Ryan
i look around and wonder what is holding people back. I know some of it is the seriousness of the call. But you do raise a good point. What holds me back?
Beautiful song, Bill!
Yes, I become sad, too, when I think of those people who deny they need God and Jesus. I pray they will come to their senses before it’s too late.
Blessings!
Glad you liked the song Martha. You are right about praying for them. Can’t stop until it all ends.
I’ve always loved a good fire and brimstone sermon, but I’ve also realized that in view of the events of today (or recent events anyways) people need a good sermon on hope rather than damnation.
I have found today that hell fire and brimstone doesn’t work. So I prefer to preach on hope and grace than damnation. thanks Ed.
That’s the sign of a true man of God carrying His heart within.
I forget who it was that said, “A pastor should never be able to preach on hell without tears in their eyes.”
D.L. Moody said it.
The lost should break our heart because came for one reason, the lost. Love the song.