Our Obstructions to a Growing Relationship with God
Recently, “obstructions” have become the new “in style” world in the Pastor’s home. Honestly, I have heard this word too many times in the past six months. I’ve also never heard the word used in a good manner. Anytime we hear the word “obstruction,” it’s normally used in a pejorative manner - as it should be! While my battle with a bowel obstruction has taken on a life of its own, it continues to be an ongoing struggle. My bowel obstruction got me thinking. What is (if anything) “obstructing” our relationship with God? What is that which is pulling us away from experiencing the joys that have been set before us? The answers are plentiful. Given the space and time I have, I will address 5.
1. Unconfessed Sin - Unconfessed sin will hinder and hamper any church or gathering. Psalm 66:18 reads, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” Unconfessed sin is the “Bridge Out!” sign to our prayer lives. We pray and pray with sin in our lives, wanting God to move, but He is unwilling to do so. We must confess our sin, and allow His forgiveness to wash over us.
2. Prayerlessness - It is always sin not to pray. James 5:16 informs, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” If we do not pray, God cannot speak to us. If we do not pray, we make a cognizant choice not to speak with God. We, in effect, take our own lives in our hands, and become the captain of our own ship. As Psalm 14:1-4 describes, only the “corrupt,” who are also called “workers of iniquity” in verse 4, will decide for themselves not to take refuge in God through prayer, thus forfeiting a life-transforming relationship with God.
3. Lack of Faith - Hebrews 11:6 highlights, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” We have the opportunity to use faith in every single moment of our day. It is during the times we choose not to exercise faith that we can easily fall into doubt, despair, and disillusionment.
4. Disregard for Others - Even children in Sunday school are taught that the church is to love others regardless of their love for us. John 13:34-35 emphasizes, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Pretty simple. We are called to love one another - not on the basis of their love for us, but on the basis of our love for God.
5. Idols in our Lives - If we are honest, we all have idols. Little ones, maybe even big ones, dot our existence and determine our outlooks. Ezekiel 14:3 explains, “Son of men, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?” Whatever the idol may be in your life - peer acceptance, social affluence, or the mighty dollar bill - we must be aware the devil uses these idols to cloud our mind and distort our view of ourselves.
With any obstruction, destruction of the idols is the only remedy. There are no “self-help” classes on instructing how to live with sin in the 21st century believers’ lives. No, we are called to die to ourselves. Jesus’ instructions to us, as the church, are found in Matthew 16:24-26: die to ourselves, deny ourselves, and follow Christ. Let us walk in faithfulness, so as not to obstruct God’s purpose and plan for our lives - to glorify God with our words, feelings, and actions.