As I stated a while back, one of the problems of the Christian life is boredom. After several decade pass, and nothing extraordinary seems to happen in our life, we are apt to suppose there is no need to be diligent and vigilant. Like the man with the barns, we are ready to kind of lay back and take life easy.

But we can be assured that when we least expect it the Lord will come to us. He wants to know how diligently we have served Him. Only a foolish person waits until that day to decide to be serious with the call on his or her life.

There is no greater terror than to be held in the hand of God and realize you have not done what you were supposed to do.

I have heard there is a prayer that goes like this: Lord, forgive us for the things we have done, and those things we should have done but didn't.

From my point of view, this prayer is abominable. It is a confession that we have no intention of serving the Lord diligently. I don't believe the Lord, who is an austere man, hears such a whining prayer.

I'll tell you the truth. This prayer makes me sick at my stomach. It is like people who say I know I ought to brush my teeth, but I keep forgetting. Do you know what I mean? Soon they need false teeth. Maybe even then they forget what they are doing and leave their false teeth at home.

Careless people simply get nowhere with the Lord. They can't be trusted to do anything but feel sorry for themselves.

Don't ask God to forgive you for doing things you shouldn't. When you know there is something you shouldn't be doing, pray for the strength to stop doing it. Otherwise you will be charged with willful sin.

When you know there are things you ought to do, then pray for the strength to do them. Get out of the religious rut, foolishness, laziness, incompetence, self-pity, and start serving the Lord. He will help you. But I guarantee you, He will never feel sorry for you. He is a King and He wants you to act like the child of a king.

The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. "Master," he said, "you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more." His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness! The man with the two talents also came. "Master," he said, "you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more." His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:20-23)

To be continued.