11/04/2025
โผ๏ธWEEKEND WORD
Neutral
๐ One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray and spent the night praying to God. (Luke 6:12)
This is not a devotional designed to make you feel guilty if you are not praying all night. We all shouldโand probably couldโpray more. But there is something in this passage that is profoundly relevant to us, especially in our modern technological world. Jesus unplugged from His normal routine, responsibilities, and expectations to spend time with the Father.
It is not earth-shattering news to say that social media is filled with toxic and perverted messages. But it is also true that not everything online is harmfulโthere are many messages that are God-honoring and uplifting. However, the majority of what we consume is simply neutral. These messages arenโt necessarily bad, but they arenโt particularly beneficial either. They donโt lead us into sin, but they also donโt encourage us to grow. They provide facts, make us laugh, and help us pass the time while we wait in line or during our commute. As a result, we can easily spend hours scrolling through and watching neutral video after neutral video.
But consider thisโwhat effect do hours of consuming neutral content have on us? Do they stir our desire for God, or do they leave our spiritual hunger in neutral? Do they empower us to move forward in our calling, or do they shift our progress into neutral? Do they inspire us to worship, or do they put our praise in neutral, something we can do later? On a practical note, how much more productive could we be if we unplugged from our phones and social media for just one hour to focus on what truly matters?
Neutral isnโt inherently badโit serves a purpose and can be beneficial at times. But we are not designed, nor are we called, to stay in neutral.
As we minister this week, letโs evaluate how we spend our time. How can we shift out of neutral and move forward with greater purpose? - Keith Garner
Join our community:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mediaandministryforum