What happens when you neglect time with God?

Joel Beeke explains in this video that there are a lot of people who are coming to faith but the corresponding level of personal holiness is often not there. The problem is that they see the truth of the doctrines of grace in the Bible and they get excited about it, but to really live the faith involves reflecting that in a life of holiness. That process takes time alone with God. Often, people neglect that time.

People cram their lives with so many “good” things that there’s not much time for personal devotions, family time, or for time spent cultivating holiness in the heart. Accordingly, a mindless Christianity develops – you go through the motions of Christianity but you’re so busy all the time that worldliness and a lack of holiness are both present.

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) – “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

What I see happening today is a lot of people are coming to the Reformed faith, which is very exciting, but the corresponding level of holiness, personal holiness, is often not there. And I think part of the reason is they see the truth of the doctrines of grace in the Bible and they get excited about it, it's a wonderful worldview, but to really live the Reformed faith, you need to reflect it in a life of holiness. And that takes time, it takes time alone with God. And often people don't give themselves that time. There's so many good things to do, and Christian families who don't want to go to R-rated movies or risque things find good things to do, but they cram their lives so full of good things, even of church things, that there's not much time left for family togetherness, there's not much time left for personal devotions, for cultivating holiness in the heart.

And what happens then, I'm afraid, is often a kind of unthinking spirit develops, a kind of a mindless Christianity. You go through the motions, but you're so busy all the time. So worldliness is a problem. And lack of holiness, a worldly spirit inwardly, even when it doesn't show itself outwardly, can be a problem. Thank you.

Thank you.