Going After Another

"Keep your feet from going unshod, and your throat from thirst. But you said, "it is hopeless, for I have loved foreigners, and after them I will go." Jeremiah 2:25 ESV

We have a God who longs to be our fulfilment and satisfaction - the answer to each of our needs. From the basics of clothing, food and drink, to the abundance that he desires to pour out, as spoken in the book of Malachi. (Malachi 3:10). The last line of this verse really struck home - "it is hopeless, for I have loved foreigners, and after them I will go." How often have I known people who responded to Christ's call to follow Him in this manner - It's hopeless...I love this too much. The temptation too great, the wrong is too fun, the problems are too big. I can't bring this forward without acknowledging that I have done the same - many times. "God, what you want for me is impossible. Your way is too difficult. I really love what I'm doing wrong - I can't change. I'm going to handle this one on my own. I'm going my own way..." What a way to respond to Someone in Whose image we were created, Someone who promises to fulfil our every need and desire when we follow Him. Admit it; we are saying that we love something, or someone, else, more than God - Who fills, satisfies and loves most. However, there is hope - "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good...delight thyself in the law of the Lord; and He shall give you the desires of your heart..." When we turn in surrender to Him, He can change our desires, or even enable us with strength to go His way, being the fulfilment we need.

What Profits

"And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things...but my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit." Jeremiah 2:11

This isn't a foreign concept. I wonder the majority of us that have been given good things from the Lord - an abundance - yet choose to go after that which has no eternal value. It is good to stop and ask the questions; am I using what I have been given for the greater good, or am I going after what has no real profit? I can get used to the gifts I have surrounding me in life, and can lack initiative or motivation to exercise them for Christ's Kingdom. I can spend my time in temporary satisfaction, or doing what only pleases me, hence "chang[ing] my glory for that which does not profit." Stop, think and ask yourself - what have you been given, and how are you using it for Christ?

Not My Own Will

"If you...shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, not finding your own pleasures, not speaking your own words, Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord." Isaiah 53:13-14

It recently was impressed on me, that Christ did nothing of his own accord - rather everything in accordance to the Father. Where God told Him to go, He went; what He told Him to do, He did; what He told Him to speak, He spoke. And Christ said "My food...is to do the will of Him who sent me." John 3:34. That was His fulfilment; His own satisfaction. David said "I delight to do your will, Oh my God." Psalm 40:8. When we have grown up being taught how to find out who we are and figure out what we want for ourselves in life, it is difficult to reverse the thinking and begin asking God, what HE wants for us. However, this is what God longs for us, and this is the path to true fulfilment and  satisfaction - delighting in Him. Ask Him.

Satisfaction

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?" Isaiah 55:2 ESV

Temporary happiness. Who isn't guilty of it. How many times have I spent my money on something unnecessary, or something that only benefited for a short-while with no external value, to others or God. How many times have I wasted my time on something that would never count towards eternity, rather squelching out the little time here. However, the cycle continues and each time, we wonder why we're left tired, with less time and maybe money, than before, and unsatisfied. The invite is always open, for us to delve into the things that will never leave us empty, and never waste our time. When working and spending - do it for the fulfilling and eternal cause His Kingdom.

How Have You Loved Us?

""I have loved you" says the Lord. But you say, "How have you loved us?"" Malachi 1:2

And He reminds them - over and over again. As many times as they need to hear, He lets them know how He picked them up and carried them out of slavery, defeated their enemies, preserved them in the desert, and showed His mercy over and over again when they turned their backs on Him. I know they weren't they only ones who asked the question, and they still aren't. I confess that at times, I need God's grace to open my eyes and remind me of who He is, and all He has done, and is daily doing in my life.
"Lord, how have you loved?" Oh, He will show. Just ask. He will answer.

Loving Much

"Her sins, which are many, are forgiven - for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." Luke 7:47 ESV

Imagine a room wherein is seated a large group of important men, eating at a table. Christ is sitting with them. Into the room walks a lone women. She is known of the city as one who is a sinner and for whatever she has done, she has a miserable reputation. She is anything but welcome.

With all eyes on her, she walks right into the room and kneeling at Jesus feet, she begins to weep. Without hesitation, without resistance, she stays there, performing what she has come to do. Owing all to the One who forgives. With her very own hair she wipes his bare feet; and finally, taking a jar of expensive oil, she pours it over his feet, giving to Him the best of what she has left.

The men, who are Pharisees, stare at her and Simon, a Pharisee and host of the meal, is thinking, "This "prophet" should know this woman is a sinner!". However, Jesus knows what he's thinking and addresses Simon with a simple story about one who'd been forgiven a little debt, and another who'd been forgiven a lot. Then He says, "Who do you think loved more?" Simon responds, "well, the one who was forgiven more!" Christ's point exactly.

This woman did even more to serve the Lord than any of the Pharisees had done, because she had realized the weight of her sin and was showing true repentance! She had felt the immense love of Christ over the burden of which He was willing to forgive, enabling her to take courage and enter the middle of a dinner with the elite, in order to return her love for a Saviour, whose forgiveness is beyond human understanding! 

The more we've realized the weight of what we've been forgiven, the more we will love Him. "Her sins which are many are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." Furthermore, the more we love Him, the more that reflects on how we treat others. When we see ourselves from what we've been redeemed, we see we are nothing without Him. It is only through His forgiveness and grace that we can be made who we are. 

Realize the place from which you have been saved. Realize the weight you've been Forgiven. Love Christ, and love others.

A Reasonable Service

"I appeal to you...by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1 ESV

We're a people who like to be praised; we thrive on being recognized for the things we do. We expect the reward and spotlight of going anywhere above and beyond our given line of service. However, God deems differently - "Give of yourselves to me," He asks. "All of you. This is reasonable." Listening for His voice and attending to the words that please Him, using our eyes to watch what glorifies Him, speaking truth and love with our lips, using our hand to do His work and our feet to follow Him - is reasonable. After all, He gave everything. He did only the work of the Father, sacrificing His life on our behalf. Therefore, it is a reasonable request that we in turn, give back our all to Him.