Heart of Gold by Robin Lee Hatcher
Today I had a rare break from the children, and I took the opportunity to read a very well-written book. Robin Lee Hatcher is one of my favorite Christian romance authors; I read a new book of hers called Heart of Gold, which I checked out from the library. I devoured it within a few short hours. Anyway, the preacher in the book reminded me of an important principle in Christianity which I call saturation.
Why do you suppose preachers are paid to preach and visit really sick people and, at least in the old days, not much else? It’s because they need to spend as many waking hours as possible in the Bible so that they can pass the revelation they receive from God onto the congregation.
But here’s the catch. All Christians are called to live like preachers. We’re all supposed to saturate ourselves in the Word of God. I have most definitely not been doing that for a while. For most of my Christian life I can honestly say that I did saturate myself in the Word of God, prayer, and seeking the Lord. But raising young ones as a grandmother has been the thing that shifted my focus.
I’ve written a lot here on the blog about being crabby. That’s not even my normal nature as a non-Christian. I’ve always mostly been just an all-around sweet and bubbly person. I guess what’s happened is that I’ve got too much of the world getting on the inside of me and not enough of the spiritual things of God.
The idea of being alone with God and focusing wholeheartedly on His Word excites me as much as anything the world has to offer. I’ve been depriving myself of what’s best in life, and as of today I’ve thoroughly realized it. This is one rut I’m particularly excited to pull out of.
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“…you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5 NKJ
Daily Pep Talk 
do you think that the congregations should pay for all expenses of utilities, gas, groceries, house? i had a discussion of this with a friend, just wanted your thoughts
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Yes, based on the principles God set up for the tribe of Israel responsible for the religious aspect of society. The real question is: Do all of today’s men of God saturate themselves in God when given the opportunity? Or are they trying to conduct “business” the world’s way? …a good debate to have.
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I’m glad I’ve stumbled onto your post. I agree that all Christians should live like preachers. I’m seeing the results of this now that I’ve left a traditional church and am attending a small fellowship where lay people take turns bringing the Sunday message. In this unlikely setting, I’ve been privy to some of the most honest and thought-provoking sermons I’ve ever heard in my life. I think it’s partly because each person knows well in advance that their turn is coming and so “saturates” themselves in Word study, probably because the responsibility feels so great. It’s amazing how much an engulfing of the Holy Spirit can make up for a lack of formal theological training.
I appreciate your writing and will be waiting for more.
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Your church sounds like an ideal situation, pulling everyone up to their calling. If it happens to be in Houston, consider me a new member and give me the details; I’m on the hunt for a home church. Thanks so much. I’m glad you came alongside.
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Well, unfortunately I just Googled the distance from my town (way, way up North by the Canadian border) to Houston and discovered that we are exactly 2,217.5 miles apart! Oh, well–guess we’ll just keep blogging for now. God bless and keep moving forward.
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lol. Guess so. 🙂
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“All Christians are called to live like preachers.” Powerful.
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