The danger in our church today is not that people do not have any faith, but they have a mediocre faith. If they had no faith then perhaps they would hit rock bottom and it would knock some sense into them. But their mediocrity keeps them hovering just above rock bottom.
The hardest ones to save are those who sit in the life raft of religion. Religion does not save; Jesus does. “Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone” (Acts 4:12 CEV).
Few Christians would describe themselves as having a mediocre faith. Yet so few Christians have a faith that is not mediocre. Stop trying to prove to people where you are and ask God to take you higher. The Lord will not rebuke you to leave you where you are but to draw you ever higher.
Sometimes it is a hard truth that gives us the foundation by which we can then stand. Jesus warned, “I know what you are doing: you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth!” (Revelation 3:15-16 CJB).
A mediocre faith has one foot in the faith and one foot firmly planted in the world. This kind of faith is as effective as an airplane that keeps some of its wheels on the ground. Even if the nose of the plane tilts up a little, it falls radically short of the heights it was meant to soar to.
The more you fit into the world, the less you belong in heaven. “Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him” (Romans 12:2 CEV).
A mediocre faith is one in which the Christian fits in better with the world than they do in true faith. They may go to a program or two each week. They may pray on occasion and even study their Bible from time to time. But they have no power of the Holy Spirit working in them.
The same Holy Spirit that dwelt in Peter dwells in you. “…they even carried their sick out into the streets and put them on cots and sleeping pads, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on one of them [with healing power]” (Acts 5:15 NKJV).
A mediocre faith will pray for friends and for family, but the prayers are flat, and the results are lacking. This kind of faith doesn’t even believe the prayers they speak and has no faith they will ever be answered. A mediocre faith only produces mediocre prayers.
An effective prayer is not dependent on the words you speak, but on the life you live. “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (James 5:16 NLT).
A mediocre faith will sometimes serve the church with great energy and dedication, but will resist surrendering to Christ. The service will be helpful, but the results will be limited to only what they can do on their own strength. Christ is not their strength but only the words written on their t-shirt.
There are more Christians willing to serve Christ than surrender to Him. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If you truly want to follow me, you should at once completely reject and disown your own life. And you must be willing to share my cross and experience it as your own, as you continually surrender to my ways’” (Matthew 16:24 TPT).
A mediocre faith can argue doctrines but cannot live them. It is a faith that criticizes other people more than loves them. It is a faith that can only bolster itself by putting others down. It is a faith that may have high intelligence but lacks the heart from which knowledge can grow fruit.
The more clearly you see yourself, the less critical you’ll be of others. “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” (Ephesians 4:2 NLT).
A mediocre faith will proclaim the goodness of God in the church but keep silent at work or in public. This faith wants the church to see them as godly and conversely wants to appear worldly in the world. This Christian does not stay in Christ but only visits Him on occasion.
Live your life during the week such that you could preach it on Sunday morning. “…be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV).
A mediocre faith cannot withstand tribulations and will fall at the first sign of trouble. This is a faith that thinks God will always make things easy, and the first time He doesn’t, this faith crumbles to the ground. The sign of a mediocre faith is a failing faith, one that cannot stand strong in the trials.
In whatever you’re going through, it is meant to take you higher. “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:2-4 NLT).
Dear Christian, you were meant to live a mighty faith. It doesn’t take your strength but your surrender. It will cost you everything but gain you so much more. There is a life you’re meant to live, and Christ can help you get there. Make it your aim to live higher in your faith each day.
The Lord wants to take you higher if only you would let Him. “The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army]; He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet and makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my high places [of challenge and responsibility]” (Habakkuk 3:19 AMP).
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius