Kindling Your Affections for Christ

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

I have noticed in my time in ministry a bigger and bigger push, at least in “western Christianity” to try to explain away how someone can be a Christian but act like the world. One only needs to look to Barna to see the statistics don’t look any different for those who claim Christ and those who don’t. To try to explain this away, I have heard more and more that Jesus Christ can be someone’s savior and not their lord, that although they are “saved” they will hopefully come to a point in their life where they will make Christ their “lord.”

Not only is this concept not found in scripture, but it is also contrary to it! (2 Corinthians 5:17 ; Romans 12:2 ; 1 John 5:18 ; 1 John 3:9 ; Galatians 6:15 ; Matthew 7:21 ; James 1:22 ; John 14:21) This is not to say our salvation is by obedience. Salvation is through grace alone. Obedience is evidence we are saved, we have a new heart, and love Christ.

Do you love Christ? Are you being sanctified? This is the goal of all who are in Christ, above all else. I think Matt Chandler sums it up by saying:

“Find the things that stir your affections for Christ and saturate your life in them. Find the things that rob you of that affection and walk away from them. That’s the Christian life as easy as I can explain it for you.” – Matt Chandler

Brother, Sister, there is nothing more important for you in this life than to stir your affections for Christ. He must be your Lord or He is nothing! Maybe you feel you flame for Christ has dwindled to a small ember. Could it be that there isn’t even a noticeable bit of smoke rising off, just the hint of the smell left over? You are not alone. Rise up, get some kindling, plant your knees into the ground and begin to stir the flame. Feed the flame by spending time in scriptures. Blow on in by spending time in prayer. Once again you will find a fire roaring. Then, continue to spend more and more time in the things that stir your affections for Christ that your fire may never die down again.