2 TIMOTHY 4:7–8 – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

Consistency, faithfulness, steadfastness, stable, constant . . . these are words all Christians desire would describe their walks with the Lord. They are also to be the spiritual characteristics that define our reputation before other Christians and those in the world watching us. One of the most damaging and confusing testimonies Christians send forth in their lives is spiritual inconsistency. It is a mark of spiritual immaturity and it shows up in too many Christians. Here are some ways spiritual inconsistency and thus spiritual immaturity manifest itself. And we will look at these ways in our private as well as public lives.

First, spiritual inconsistency in our private lives occurs by “hit and miss” times of prayer. Prayer gets crowded out of our lives or is reduced to mere formality at a meal or bedtime that never brings us into the spiritual reality of encountering God. We lack the discipline to guard prayer as a daily practice of delight. And here is the spiritual inconsistency. If we were asked to define the place of importance of prayer in the Christian life, we would be quick to say, “High on the list. Indispensable”, yet, if we observed its practice in our private lives, we would likely see our profession not matching our practice.

Another area of spiritual inconsistency in our private lives would be the neglect of the Bible or at best, a rushed reading of the Bible. Isn’t it amazing how easily we may sit riveted to a two hour movie or show after a long day, but yet, cannot give the Lord an hour or thirty minutes of disciplined time in His Word because of fatigue? Don’t underestimate the power of our flesh and the devil to use tiredness to keep us from the Word. Fatigue is a way of life. And to overcome this area of life that produces spiritual inconsistency, we need to believe and rely upon the words of Nehemiah–the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

Now a few ways spiritual inconsistency is manifest in our public lives, and this particularly toward church life, or living out the Christian life with other believers. First, spiritual inconsistency shows itself by too many Christians “church hopping”. Granted this might not be the practice during COVID as much as before, but there are those Christians who simply don’t plant themselves in a church, as a spiritual family, and sacrificially give themselves to the body life God intends. They are hit and miss in attendance, never participate outside of ninety-minutes on a Sunday morning, and are ready to move on, and do, if something they don’t agree with occurs or someone, maybe the convicted Word preached, rubs them wrong. This is the spiritually immature Christian who is living spiritually inconsistent.

Another way spiritual inconsistency is seen in the public, church lives of believers, is in promises not kept to the body of believers. Sadly, and I guess it is an occupational hazard, Christians have said to me,“ Pastor Jim, I need more commitment to the church. Starting this week, I am going to be more faithful to be with God’s people in the Word, prayer and service.” And yet, the promises never become practices. Good intentions don’t count. Good obedience and keeping one’s word does. Be a person of our word. God expects it. Take time and read Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 and see God’s perspective on our promises.

A spiritually stable Christian life. It is the mark of maturity and is to be our daily pursuit. May the Lord help us send forth a powerful testimony to all of spiritual consistency and stability.

PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for Your steadfast love that never wavers and never ceases.”
QUOTE: “To stabilize our walks with the Lord look at His steadfast love for us more than our wavering love for Him.”

Because of Him,
Pastor Jim