Originally published Monday, 14 March 2016.
It was a dream, but it was also the truth: If I am not careful, some thing is going to ruin me. If I don't keep my eyes open and my arms wrapped around Jesus, I will most certainly diverge - and the results won't be pretty.
You see, I have these underlying things that pop out of me, things like: I want to be wanted, I need to be seen, I desire to be liked, I hope to be valued. Intrinsically, they are not bad, but without God as the fueler - they're horrible.
What is prone to lead you astray?
That "something", if you're not careful,
is bound to become your one thing.
Don't think it can't, won't or will never happen to you...that in itself is called pride and pride every time goes before a fall, friend (Prov. 16:18).
What is it for you?
Imagine this for a moment. Christ, of all people, he chooses you! He singles you out as one of the 12 disciples. You preach, teach, heal and exorcise demons. You walk behind the miracle maker. You see his deeds. You know his words. You watch the lame walk, the mute speak and the blind look. He calls you by name. He likely touches you. He deems you special. Wouldn't it be amazing?!
How would you feel? How might adoration bubble over?
(Following would be so easy; you would never leave his side, right?! That would be impossible. Impossible to turn away from him, wouldn't it?! Uhh...Hardly!)
So, there you are, this chosen little loved one. And there you stand, looking at the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. You see his value, but there's another dang voice calling. It speaks things like riches, mightiness, love, value, adoration, power, earthly weight, beauty, and influence - and how you should acquire them. It calls you...to figure things out.
When you spend so much time listening to the wrong voice, you kind of negate its harm.
It gets slippery here.
You have to be careful, for you may end up getting what you long for -
but Jesus may end up - long gone.
There you stand and walk. You kiss Jesus with your lips - but betray him in your heart (Luke 22:48).
Don't think you are above the betraying act of Judas. If the the very people who walked behind Jesus, could walk away, so could you.
All the disciples, people who had a first-hand account of his majesty, abandoned Jesus: “This very night you will all fall away on account of me.” (Matthew 26:31)
Peter does it three times even after pledging allegiance to his King: “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” (Matthew 26:33)
If you walk oblivious to your leanings and lures, you'll walk right into them. It happens all the time - feet are swept up and face implants down. Oww!
I think I could easily end up as a Judas. If I go about my business without giving a second thought to my mind, I'll be kissing all sorts of things. I can't allow this to happen, can you?
Jesus, though, he has this way or reaching out to his loved ones who are loving him. He reminds me that his touch is all I need. His forgiveness is always active. His presence is always tangible. His help is always 2-steps ahead and his gift of freedom is always waiting to work. He reminds me that I am his and he is mine and that he will help me endure this thing called faith.
He reminds me that: Perfect love casts out fear. Not once. Not twice, but every single time and that when I start stretching my neck to see other things, his love will gently massage it back to peace and calm - if I only come - to him.
The simple truth is...when you cuddle into Jesus' deep seat of love, you can't so easily get up and head other places.
Prayer:
Jesus, I love you. I want to never depart from you. May all my needs, always be met in you. Keep my devotion devoted no matter what. May your love and forgiveness never leave room for despair. May the things I want to kiss, never kill me. Jesus, I love you. Amen.
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