On one of the talks on the retreat last weekend, I heard something that has been on my heart ever since: Christ’s standard is holiness; Satan’s standard is mediocrity.
I don’t think that a lot of us would consider ourselves particularly lazy people. I know that I didn’t. But lately, I’ve realized just how lazy I’ve been in my spiritual life for a long time.
It goes back to the idea that, if you spend some time really meditating on Christ–on who He is, what He’s done, what you owe Him, what you’ve done for Him, and what you should do for Him–mediocrity becomes unacceptable.
And pleasing Him in every little thing that you do becomes the greatest goal and joy of your life.
How terrifically easy this is to type–and terrifically tough to put into practice.
This week, when I find myself making a decision to be or do something “good enough”–I am working on taking a second look at the purity of my intentions and the fullness of my “yes” in that moment to what God wants me to do.
It's definitely true that scrupulosity can also be a very effective tool of the devil–just take a look at the Pharisees. But before the devil turns to that tactic, he's going to try to get us to believe that we are being to hard on ourselves, that we're not called to great things, that sainthood and going for "perfection" isn't for the likes of you.
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children." -Ephesians 5:1
"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." -2 Corinthians 7:1
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."
-Philippians 3:12
robotic prayer, the reformation, and the question of sincerity in one's relationship with God explored in one fabulous 20 min radio session:
http://www.radiolab.org/blogs/radiolab-blog/2011/jun/14/clockwork-miracle/