When we lead people to Jesus, we often don't calculate the outlay necessary to disciple them. Eventually they may fall away from the Lord if poorly discipled. When we prepare for marriage, we don't calculate what it takes to make a marriage work in an anti-Christian, anti-marriage society. Then many marriages break up. When we educate our young people, we fail to calculate the outlay of discipling them. Then after years of Catholic education, they don't have a deep relationship with the Lord, and therefore live like pagans.
We are unrealistic if we keep hoping that somehow we'll get away with watering down the gospel. We compromise with the world and try not to get burnt. We think a mediocre, minimal counterfeit of Christianity will not always bear bad fruit. After millions of abortions, hundreds of thousands of divorces, the decimation of priesthood and religious life, the alienation of our young people, and the deterioration of decency in our society, don't you think we ought to face reality? We must repent of lukewarm Christianity, totally give our lives to the Lord, and live for Him alone.
| PRAYER: | Father, may lukewarm Christians consider me a fanatic. |
| PROMISE: | "Owe no debt to anyone except the debt that binds us to love one another. He who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law." –Rm 13:8 |
| PRAISE: | Helen fights lukewarmness by being a daily communicant, faithful intercessor, and pro-life volunteer. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College