Never Drink Stagnant Water

     There once was a boy who loved. He loved God, his friends, and his family. This boy was just like any other normal human being. He went to school, got a job, and went to church. Hanging out with his friends at church was one of his favorite things to do. They would joke around and just have a great time during Sunday morning and the Wednesday night devotional. Everything was going great for this boy. But something was not right. The life he was living was no different than other people. He went to church where he studied and learned about the Bible. But still there was something wrong. There was no growth in this boy. He was becoming stagnant in his faith. Church was becoming just a "hangout". A place to come see friends, hear a few good words, and leave it all behind once it was done. Life was becoming more about friends than about God. Sure he was still learning from the Bible but his days no longer revolved around God, but around friends. The relationship with God he once pursued was rapidly falling down the ladder of importance. His family warned him about the path he was choosing. They told him to not let his life revolve just around friends but around God and family also. Most importantly God. Being the young rebellious boy he was, his ears were closed. Nothing they said could get through. The boy lived his life how he thought was good and became stagnant in his faith. After a while of living this non-growing, stagnant life, the little boy finally came to  a little bit of his senses and starting reading his Bible more on his own. But still life was mainly about friends until that one day. The day he met a friend that would change his life forever...

     Have you ever felt like this little boy? As if you know what is best for you life so you ignore the advice your loved ones give you? You think to yourself, "I read my Bible and I go to church so that makes me a good person". But deep down on the inside you feel as if you are wrong but do not want to admit it. Life moves on but you stand still, not moving in any direction. Sure you read your Bible some but what is the point of reading if you do not apply it? There is no reason to read the Bible if you do not pursue a relationship with God. The Bible is God's word. God is talking directly to you. If you were talking to someone and they were listening but did not care about a single thing you said, would you want to be with them? I don't think so. We want to be around people who love us and who care about us. Why wouldn't God want the same? He created us. He put the emotions and feelings in us. Everything comes from Him. God loves us and He wants what is best for us. If we come to our senses and realize that all life is about is loving God and becoming closer to Him, then we will never be stagnant. Our lives will flourish with Him and we will shine brighter than the sun.