February 4, 2025

The Slippery Spiritual Slope

The slippery slope to spiritual decline is one that is almost imperceptible. One day you are on fire for God, and then before you know it, you are dull and lethargic.

How does spiritual decline happen? I think there are at least four ways:

1. Through neglect. If you neglect a garden, the weeds grow. If you don’t water the garden, it will eventually dry up. Sometimes we get into a state where we need to be revived due to neglect.

2. Through the storms of life. Life can sometimes beat you up. Some people have been so beaten up that they are just worn down; and when you couple that with neglect, it is a recipe for spiritual disaster.

3. Through the influence of wrong company or wrong relationships. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, Do not be deceived. Evil company corrupts good habits. And the very next word is awake. Awake to righteousness, and do not sin. Do not be deceived. Evil company, bad company, corrupts good habits.

4. Through willful disobedience. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been guilty at one time or another of willful disobedience. And when that is not repented of, when it is not taken care of, it brings us into a state of spiritual decline that can be very dangerous.

So what do you do if you find yourself in spiritual decline? Let me leave you with this verse, Hosea 6:1,

Come, and let us return to the LORD; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.

The same Spirit that convicts also comforts. If you are convicted, repent. Repentance is an inward change of heart resulting in an outward change of direction. Return to the Lord and let Him heal you and bind you up.

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