One comment from Sunday's sermon that stuck with me is the idea that God commands us to desire something we may not desire. 1 Peter 2.2 commands us to "crave pure spiritual milk," namely the Word of God. I can relate to late-night cravings for Golden Grahams, or cookie dough ice cream, but these seem to come upon me, unbidden. My only choice is to relent and dive into the kitchen to obey my craving, or to abstain for the sake of my waistline.
But the Scriptures indicate in a number of places that we can cultivate a craving for more of God's Spirit, more of his Word, more of Him! Hosea 10.12 says
"Plant the good seeds of righteousness,
and you will harvest a crop of love.
Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,
for now is the time to seek the LORD,
that he may come
and shower righteousness upon you."
(see also Jeremiah 4.3)
I like that agricultural image (though I'm no farmer, nor the son of a farmer): our hearts can be fallow ground, hard dirt that is not pliable or receptive to God. We can prepare our hearts for God. We can ready ourselves for and develop a sensitivity to God's spirit.
Further, in James 4:8 we read, "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." I firmly believe that, even if we don't "feel" close to God, even if we don't "feel like" reading Scripture or pausing to listen to his Holy Spirit, we ought to do it anyway, and our feelings (which we can rely too much on) will come along eventually. Faith that is based primarily on feelings of religious fervor is sure to be hollow and let us down as soon as our feelings change. Praise God that His Word endures forever, and isn't subject to change and whims like our feelings can be!
"For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say,
'People are like grass;
their beauty is like a flower in the field.
The grass withers and the flower fades.
But the word of the Lord remains forever.'
And that word is the Good News that was preached to you."
(1 Peter 1.23-25)
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2 comments:
I've been thinking about what Pastor Perry said about praying for our leaders in government. Truthfully I do not always think of praying for them. I should because they need God as much as I do.
This morning I read Exodus Charter 32 when the people made a golden calf to worship in the absence of Moses. After I read the chapter, I thought about our country and the golden calves we have. Then I thought, wouldn't be neat if the leaders, we elected to government offices pray for us, the people and the country of the United States. Moses the leader of Israel asked God to forgive his people and God changed His mind and let them live! Our country is great because of the mercy and grace of God, and I pray that He will never leave His gracious hand from our land.
I will pray for our leaders.
Thanks
Mike Miller
Do we desire God or does God desire us? The Bible is replete with examples of how God pursues us, woes us, and draws us into a relationship with Himself. John 6:44 is a great example. Psalm 20:4 and Psalm 37:4 both tell us that “God will give us the desires of our hearts”. All too often, though, we think that God is Santa Claus or the genie of the lamp. God puts desires on our hearts, and then He brings those desires to fruition through our faithful obedience to His will and His Word.
James warns us that God does not put evil desires on our hearts. We have an enemy who tempts us, we have a world system which is at war with God’s Way, and we have our own fleshly desires. “Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” (James 1:13 NASB)
If we do not think God is clear enough or straightforward enough, James clearly explains our issue: “You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:2-4 NASB)
So, does God desire a deeper relationship with us? “Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?” (James 4:5 NASB) Of course, we must be filled the Spirit (literally, be being filled in Eph 5:18) on an ongoing, day-by-day, moment-by-moment basis. Confess sin as necessary, ask for God’s direction, seek first His kingdom, etc. The Holy Spirit even intercedes for us when we do not know how to pray as we should. (See Romans 8:26.)
As we reflect on God’s infinite love for us, we should remember the words of Paul: “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36 NLT)
Sean Greene
6-30-09
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