The Things I Love

The scenes of beauty, the associations of friends and family, the food, the decorations, the excitement of high powered cars, the vicarious enjoyment of sports, and the pleasure of giving things to the ones I love are all things I enjoy. But, I enjoy them too much because I sometimes make one or more of these pleasures the condition for my satisfaction and contentment in life. And, at least temporarily, they can even make me feel satisfied separate from the quality of my relationship with the Lover of my soul.

Lord Jesus, increase our hunger for You.
May you cause us and our children and our children's children and their children to never be satisfied with the riches, food and pleasures of this world.
May you, Father, be our riches, our food and our delight.
May you, Jesus, truly be our Desire and the Lord of our life this year.
May you, Holy Spirit, fill us more and more each day and cause us to overflow with love for our neighbor.
May you be the Love of my life that is greater than all the other things I love.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.

How excellent is your mercy, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of your house; and you shall make them drink of the river of your pleasures. For with you is the fountain of life: in your light shall we see light.

Ps 65:4 27:4 Mt 5:6 Lu 1:53 Ps 107:9 Lu 14:26 Joh 6:35 Ps 36:7-9

Can we find a man like this?

And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?"

Wouldn't it be great to be a man like Joseph who was guided and empowered by the Spirit of God? Throughout the Old Testament, we read of how God gave particular men His Spirit in order for them to accomplish specific tasks or purposes. These spirit empowered men, such as: Noah, Moses, Joseph, Gideon, Samson, and Jeremiah, accomplished incredible tasks and revealed God's message with power. The amazing thing is that God intends each follower of Jesus to be just such a person -- a man like Joseph in whom is the Spirit of God.

"Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8)

The Gates of Hell

So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:36)

It's more important than my IRA or 401-K. It's more important than my job, my house, my comfort or my peace. If the loss of my child, my 401-k or anything in this world would cause me to give up on Jesus or to have diminished trust in Him then it is best for me to face that truth sooner than later. The most important part of life is our faith which is dependent on the quality of our relationship with Jesus, the Christ.

Ideally, God wants each of us to have peace, joy and prosperity. Loss, however, may be what we actually need. The loss of money, relationship or health may be the best thing that could happen because it might be a wake-up call that would rouse us from a false, drowsy security. It could reveal a false or shallow faith and give a chance to find a genuine or deeper faith.

It is not reasonable to think one can trust Jesus for the unknown beyond death when that same person is unable to trust and follow Jesus in this life. God is kind in all His doings and will never crush a weak faith. If we have even a feeble faith, God will work in such a way that it will stand and grow. But, if our faith is false and depends on our comfort, it should and will crumble. And, the sooner -- the better. If the quality of my faith is contingent on the condition of my spouse, stock portfolio, or stomach, that faith is either too frail and needs to grow or it is a facade with which I fool myself.

Lord, please reveal anything or anyone, other than you, which has become a false foundation of life. Let each of us know where we are depending on sand rather than You -- the Rock. Lord, life is scary. Please, help each of us to more and more focus on you even as the high waves and fierce winds of this life sometimes threaten to overwhelm us. Take me, our family, our church family, and our nation beyond a weak or false faith that is contingent on comfort and having things "our way". Grow our faith into a strong, vibrant and active force that tears down the gates of hell and lets Your light shine into the dark places of this world.

The Lord is just in all His ways and kind in all His doings. (Ps 145:17)