Devotional – Frustrated?
Good evening, Church family.
Tonight, I want to share a burden that’s been pressing heavily on my heart. It’s a wave of frustration — but also a deep yearning. I long to see God move powerfully in our land… here in Australia, in His churches, and especially in our own fellowship at Calvary Chapel Secret Harbour.
As I drive to church early on Sunday mornings, around 7:45 am, I see people jogging, walking, heading out for coffee — just going about their day as so many unsaved, non-churchgoing people do. And it stirs this question in me:What must happen in our nation for people to turn back to God?What must it take for our churches, and even our own congregation, to burn again with real passion for the Lord?
I believe many of you feel this same burden.
I recently heard a conversation between Joel Rosenberg — a Messianic Jew living in Israel — and Pastor Greg Laurie from California. They sat in an open market, sipping coffee, and they shared the same frustrations and questions:Why is the Church struggling today to make an impact? Why does our witness seem weaker in these Last Days?
Their answer was simple, but sharp:It’s a lack of love for our Lord — hearts growing cold toward the One who suffered and died on Calvary to free us from sin and condemnation.
Could this be true in Australia? Could it be true right here in Secret Harbour?
Jesus said in Luke 7:47:
“Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
You know the story. Jesus was dining at Simon the Pharisee’s house, when a woman — broken and weeping — came in and:
Luke 7:38
“Stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with ointment.”
And here’s the searching question for us tonight:Do we think we’ve only been forgiven a little?Do we quietly believe we weren’t really that bad before we came to Christ?
Maybe this is why our love sometimes grows cold, why our witness struggles.Yet the Bible declares that all of us were guilty. All deserving God’s judgment. And only by His grace are we forgiven — and forgiven much.
So tonight, I ask myself:Am I like Simon?Am I self-righteous without realizing it?Is that what’s cooling the fire in my heart?
Let’s come before the Lord now — and like that woman, let’s tell Him and show Him that we know we’ve been forgiven much. And let’s love Him much in return.
Let’s pray together:
Father, we come before You tonight as those who have been forgiven much. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we’ve thought lightly of our sin, or lightly of Your sacrifice. Lord Jesus, stir our hearts again with deep love for You — the One who bore our shame and took our place on the Cross. Break through any self-righteousness, any coldness, and set our hearts on fire for You once more. May Your Church in this land — and here in Secret Harbour — rise up with a fresh passion to love You and to reach this lost world. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.