Too Busy Not To Pray

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

The Christian life is a process. I don't think anyone would disagree with me on that aspect. Anyone who is alive realizes that who they were in Christ one, ten, twenty, or even fifty years ago is the not who they are in Christ today. As believers in Christ as Messiah we should always be growing in our faith. This means at least taking time out of our day to read Scripture, pray, or even fellowship with other believers and with God.

Now, I will be the first to tell you all that I don't always follow my own advice. There are days that I don't want to read Scripture or pray because I have too much to do. Or as a fellow pastor told me yesterday, "We're too busy not to pray." Yes, that's a Bill Hybels book title. But he is so right. Is my life really so busy that I cannot spend even thirty minutes with my Savior? He is the one who created me and saved me, you know.

But many of us in the Church (universal church and local church) don't miss a beat when we ignore God the entire day or week. But if we were to miss a meeting with the leadership of the church it would be a disaster. Or if we miss a meeting with a client then the stress level raises. Or if the crops didn't get harvested until a week later then frustration sets in. But why do we not feel such urgency with our relationship with God? Is it a spiritual maturity issue? Is it a priority issue?

2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that it is God who does the transforming of our lives. When I yield to Christ then He begins to put my priorities in place. So, what does this reveal bout my own life?

Why am I not like Paul?

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you." (James 4:7-8; NIV)

Last Wednesday night I had someone from the congregation come in and ask me about the spiritual gifts that are mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12-13. Here is just a few found in that passage: apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healing, helps, administration, and speaking in different kinds of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28; NIV). The question that was asked is whether these gifts still exist. Ahhhh, that question. Well, I gave her the normal answer, "Who am I to say that they don't. I don't see anywhere in scripture that they end." But then I came back with this question: What is the difference between Paul and us? Besides the fact that Paul was commissioned by Christ in person and he was an apostle, what is the difference between him and me?

The verse above brought up that same question when I read it this morning. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." That seems simple enough. So, why can't I live the life of Paul and resist the devil to the point and strength of Paul? He obviously had either more faith than me or more Spirit because I am not even close to living the life of Paul. But Paul had the same Spirit that I have. God does not change. So, why was Paul able to preach, have a guy fall out of a window, Paul go outside, bring him back to life, go back upstairs, and continue preaching?

Okay, so there are a lot of questions in this one. But seriously, what are your thoughts?