A Faith Going Round In Circles 

Nehemiah 9:28 (NIV) – “But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time.

The sad history of Israelites that is also our story. A faith going round in circles. Going round in circles is doing something relatively for a long time without achieving anything. A faith going round in circles is not achieving spiritual growth that is required.

Israelites, just like us were rebellious. God was very patient with the them. Our Bible text today tells us that they sinned against God, but God did not abandon them. Aren’t we lucky that God doesn’t abandon us when we sin? Aren’t we lucky that He bears with us?

At some point in their rebellion, God allowed Israelites to be enslaved by their enemies because of their sins. When Israelites found themselves in the hands of their enemies they cried to God desperately. Our God who is merciful stepped in and rescued them.

This became a pattern for many years. They sin, God bears with them. They sin some more, God allows them to suffer in the hands of their enemies. They cry to God, and God sends deliverance. As soon as they rest from deliverance, they sin again, they sinned some more, they went to captivity, they cried to God, God saved them, they sinned again! It became a pattern!

Nehemiah 9:28 (Message Bible) – But as soon as they had it easy again they were right back at it—more evil. So you turned away and left them again to their fate, to the enemies who came right back. They cried out to you again; in your great compassion you heard and helped them again. This went on over and over and over.

Over and over again, no spiritual growth, no progress. A faith going round in circles. One step forward and another step backward. Same as mark timing. Sinning and repenting. Same sin followed by repentance. Repentance to avert suffering and not because of a change of heart. No growth!

Baptism and rebaptism because the sermon was good and the moment was right but no change of heart. Rebaptism to bribe God to offer something we need and not because we love Him or want to relate with Him. After we get what we need we backslide and wait for another rebaptism when another need arises. No growth, a faith going round in circles!

Faithful to God during sickness and lukewarm when in good health. Faithful to God when experiencing loss and being cagey about faith when celebrating wins. A faith going round in circles.

When life is good we are too busy for God. When challenges approach we show excessive devotion. We oscillate from complete rejection of God to complete devotion. We don’t really love God, we use Him as a safety measure. 

We run to God to solve problems. Once problems are over we abandon our faith. This kind of faith does not lead to spiritual growth. This is a faith going round in circles. A faith that achieves nothing!

A faith going round in circles failed Israelites. It led them to captivity for seventy years. They lived without peace of mind. Life wasn’t satisfying because faith was going round in circles!

Dear God, save me and save us from a faith that goes round in circles. May we consistently love you in good times and hard times. May we never forget You when we are basking in excellence and comfort. May we never be people who only pray and seek You when we are desperate. In Jesus name, Amen!

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