The "On the Clock" Christian

Most of us have been to jobs where you have to "clock in" when you get to work. For those that haven't, I think we can all agree when you are scheduled to be working you are using company time. In almost any work environment, many of us realize that there are people that try to cheat the system. Co-workers wasting company time and robbing their employers by taking extra and extended breaks, being lazy, talking on the cell phone, etc.
However, I think that many may be unaware that people that go by the name of Christian do the same thing to God. I call these "On the Clock" Christians, people that claim the name of Christ and then try to cheat God. How many of us have been "On the Clock" Christians? We may wake up in the morning and "clock in" with God and do our 30 minutes of reading and prayer and then we "clock out". Or maybe we go to all our bible studies, prayer meetings, and church during the week THEN we feel have put in our time with God. We do these things where we give God a small portion of our day, or an alloted time during the week, to ease our conscience and make ourselves feel better that we made room for God.
How many people just do not get it! Christianity is not about making room for God. Christianity is about giving up all for God, and letting Him be in control of all that we do so that "in all we do, in word or deed, we do ALL to the glory of God". We cannot be Christians for one hour a day, or 3 days a week. That is not a Christian at all. Our lives are to be a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing unto God. Is the Lord who gave His life for you only worthy of an hour a day? It ultimately boils down to your heart motive. If you are an "On the Clock" Christian, then you have not given control over to God. You are still master of parts of your life. You cannot serve two masters .... Christ must have your heart! Once Christ has your heart, it will be your desire to be in His presence .... to give Him your all .... to please Him morning, noon, and night.
There is no greater joy or purpose than giving Christ the throne of your heart and letting Him rule your life. No more "making time" for God to ease your conscience. You don't have to because you are no longer your own, you were bought with a price. All you have is now God's and all your time is God's. No more "duty" in reading the Bible and doing devotions. These things that were once duties turn into desires. Serving others, prayer, worship, reading .... all the things that are a grind for the "On the Clock" Christian now simply come naturally out of a heart that is totally surrendered to Christ.
Let us make sure that Christ is not a duty that we attend to as an "On the Clock" Christian. But let Him be the Lord of our life, who we serve naturally out of a thankful heart as "On fire" Christians .... willing to give all for the Lord who has given all for us. How can we ever re-pay? How can we ever express in words the gifts He has so freely given? Let us give back to a God that is worthy than so much more than we can give. Let us not insult the Lord by giving him a spot on our calender. If you have been an "On the Clock" Christian, examine yourself and see where you need to change ... and in the areas where you still sit on the throne, give them over to Christ and let Him rule your life.