Being a follower of Jesus, should we live according to our opinion or the instructions of Jesus? Should we be directed by our society or the commandments of the one who we claim as King? Sometimes it seems that somewhere along our walk we get disconnected from the implications of the decision we freely made to follow Jesus. It was our choice. It was our choice to allow him to transform our life. It was our choice to experience the second birth. Yet, somewhere, somehow, many of us have left off our desire to live like Jesus and now desire for ourselves.
We aren't losing ground because our churches aren't big enough or that we don't have enough programs. It isn't because our youth rallies aren't cool enough or our pastors not entertaining enough. It is because we no longer pursue a desire to live for Jesus but instead chase after the priorities of our world. Let's isolate one verse while keeping it in it's context. Jesus said:
Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask. (Matthew 6:8)
The words of Jesus. A message for every age but especially for today. Don't be like them. Don't be like the rest of the world. Don't be like those who make life all about survival, possessions, working themselves to death. Don't be like those who store away treasures that they will never get to spend. Don't be like those who search for escape in the distractions of this world. Don't be like those who seek purpose in things that will have no value in eternity.
Jesus told us not to be like them but instead to spend our days seeking the things of the Kingdom. As citizens of this Kingdom, as children of our Father, we are to pursue and discover the priorities of our God, the things he considers to be important. If this does not attract you or have any interest for you, you should understand that you are not where you need to be with Jesus.
It's easy to get to that wrong place. It only takes a neglect of our relationship with Jesus, a neglect of God's Word, a neglect of prayer, a neglect of worship, a neglect of church. For a while we feel okay and everything seems fine and then we even start to lie to ourselves. But decide to be honest for a moment. Is Jesus still the greatest love of your life? Is your eternity the greatest priority? Is your love for people and concern for their salvation your greatest interest? Is your life about yourself or others? Are you distracted by the things of our society?
Don't be like them!
Now is not the time to faint and fall away. Now is not the time to sit and rest for a while. Now is not the time to become distracted. Time is short. Know the Father's heart and pursue those things.
Showing posts with label first love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label first love. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Sometimes The Best Answer Is The Simplest
The Word of God is a wonderful mystery that is revealed through the revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus is key. Without the key the Bible appears to be a bunch of babble with archaic rules. With Jesus it becomes a testament to Yahweh's love for us and a thing that enters and changes us. Some days it appears like a mystery we will never grasp and other days it comes across like baby food, obvious and impossible to misunderstand.
Here is an example of one verse, eleven words, whose truth is plain but the application of which provokes great change:
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:34)
I think you would attest to the truth of these words. They only make sense in the direct logic they convey. Simple. Straightforward. Easy to understand. Not much room to argue against it. The challenge is not found in the understanding of it but in the application.
Whatever you consider to be important will take priority in your life. You can tell your wife a million times that you love her but if she always comes last in your list of priorities, your true heart is revealed. If you tell your daughter she is important to you but every time she wants to talk you are too busy, your true heart is revealed. If you tell Jesus you love him, attend church but can't find any time for him the rest of the week, your true heart is revealed.
There is no getting around the truth of this statement.
If your car is your treasure, then your car will be getting your attention, time and money. If your xbox is your treasure, then your games will be getting your attention, time and money. You may try to find a girlfriend who likes gaming just as much as you but that's so you can spend time with your true love without feeling guilty. You can give Jesus all the excuses you want but you and I both know that you weren't that busy this week. The problem was that you were caught in the time trap of social media because that is where your heart is.
This is a significant issue that needs to be addressed because so many of us claim love for Jesus but our actions belie the true condition of our heart. Let me remind you again that our part of the covenant with Jesus is to love Yahweh with our entire being, to be consumed by him with even greater passion than when we are sometimes consumed by things of this world:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37)(Deuteronomy 6:5)
The point is, our treasure is suppose to be Jesus, not our car, xbox or even our girlfriend. His love is the priority, or at least should be. Take a lot around with me. Take a look at our fellow Christians. No judgement here, only observation. We may say with our lips we love him but our feet, hands and wallet tell us that our love has found a different treasure.
Take a quick inventory with me:
1. What one thing takes the greater portion of your time?
2. What one thing do you spend the most time thinking about?
3. What one thing do you spend the most money on?
4. What one thing consumes the greater portion of your energy?
Now, after answering these, where is your heart? What is your treasure? Could this be why Jesus seems so distant? Could this be why the Scriptures feel so cold? Could this be why nothing seems to be going right? Could this be why you seem so confused?
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
May the Lord be gracious, to open our eyes, to receive our confession and to restore our hearts to him. Purify us Lord. Make us as one with you. May there be power in the Church for the winning of the lost.
Here is an example of one verse, eleven words, whose truth is plain but the application of which provokes great change:
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:34)
I think you would attest to the truth of these words. They only make sense in the direct logic they convey. Simple. Straightforward. Easy to understand. Not much room to argue against it. The challenge is not found in the understanding of it but in the application.
Whatever you consider to be important will take priority in your life. You can tell your wife a million times that you love her but if she always comes last in your list of priorities, your true heart is revealed. If you tell your daughter she is important to you but every time she wants to talk you are too busy, your true heart is revealed. If you tell Jesus you love him, attend church but can't find any time for him the rest of the week, your true heart is revealed.
There is no getting around the truth of this statement.
If your car is your treasure, then your car will be getting your attention, time and money. If your xbox is your treasure, then your games will be getting your attention, time and money. You may try to find a girlfriend who likes gaming just as much as you but that's so you can spend time with your true love without feeling guilty. You can give Jesus all the excuses you want but you and I both know that you weren't that busy this week. The problem was that you were caught in the time trap of social media because that is where your heart is.
This is a significant issue that needs to be addressed because so many of us claim love for Jesus but our actions belie the true condition of our heart. Let me remind you again that our part of the covenant with Jesus is to love Yahweh with our entire being, to be consumed by him with even greater passion than when we are sometimes consumed by things of this world:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37)(Deuteronomy 6:5)
The point is, our treasure is suppose to be Jesus, not our car, xbox or even our girlfriend. His love is the priority, or at least should be. Take a lot around with me. Take a look at our fellow Christians. No judgement here, only observation. We may say with our lips we love him but our feet, hands and wallet tell us that our love has found a different treasure.
Take a quick inventory with me:
1. What one thing takes the greater portion of your time?
2. What one thing do you spend the most time thinking about?
3. What one thing do you spend the most money on?
4. What one thing consumes the greater portion of your energy?
Now, after answering these, where is your heart? What is your treasure? Could this be why Jesus seems so distant? Could this be why the Scriptures feel so cold? Could this be why nothing seems to be going right? Could this be why you seem so confused?
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
May the Lord be gracious, to open our eyes, to receive our confession and to restore our hearts to him. Purify us Lord. Make us as one with you. May there be power in the Church for the winning of the lost.
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