“These ‘functional saviors’ can be any object of dependence we embrace that isn’t God. They become the source of our identify, security, and significant because we hold an idolatrous affection for them in our hearts. They preoccupy our minds and consume our time and our resources. They make us feel good and somehow even make us feel righteous. Whether we realize it or not, they control us, and we worship them.” ….

“If you haven’t already figured out what your functional saviors are, try filling in these blanks:

I am preoccupied with _____________________________.

If only __________________ , then I would be happy.

I get my sense of significance from ________________________.

I would protect and preserve _______________________ at any cost.

I fear losing _________________________.

The thing that gives me the greatest pleasure is ________________________.

When I lose ____________________ I get angry, resentful, frustrated, anxious, or depressed.

For me, life depends on _______________________.

The thing I value more than anything in the world is ______________________.

When I daydream, my mind goes to ________________________.

The best thing I can think of is ______________________.

The thing that makes me want to get our of bed in the morning is _____________________. “

Taken from Jerry Bridges, The Bookends of the Christian Life, pages 72-73.

“For another thing, let me warn all careless members of churches to beware lest they trifle their souls into hell. You live on year after year as if there was no battle to be fought with sin, the world, and the devil. You pass through life a smiling, laughing, gentlemanlike or ladylike person, and behave as if there was no devil, no heaven and no hell. Oh, careless churchman, or careless dissenter, careless Episcopalian, careless Presbyterian, carless Independent, careless Baptist, awake to see eternal realities in their true light! Awake and put on the armor of God! Awake and fight hard for life! Tremble, tremble, and repent.”

- J.C. Ryle, Holiness, 299.