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Sunday, September 7, 2008

At His Feet . . .

Today was just one of those days when I am feeling down and out... There is lots of "STUFF" going on at our church that the devil has his hand in and I just don't want to be there! Stinky way to think, huh? So, I decided to stay at home and read my devotional and Bible.

Here is what God gave me this morning:

" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and most important commandment." Matthew 22:37-38

Despite our extraordinary calling - to experience God's love and to love Him in return - we fill our lives with idols. Given the greatest invitation in the universe, we treat it as an obligation that we might be able to squeeze in around our other interests. Could anything be more ludicrous? The infinite, holy, jealous, merciful, mighty Ancient of Days makes a straight path for us into His heart of passion, and our response is so often to say, "We'll see; I've got some other things I'd like to do, too." The angels must be astonished at the squandering of such an opportunity.

The passions that draw us away from God can be intense, Jesus does not ask us to rid ourselves of passion, but to turn that passion toward God. When we realize this and break ourselves free from the illusions-or delusions-that make us think we can find fulfillment in anything other than Him, our lives begin to resemble watered, fruitful oases where there was once desert. Determine to pursue God in love as a response to His loving pursuit of you. Leave everything else behind.

WOW!

"We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us. We are far to easily pleased." - C.S. Lewis

Wish this would have been the sermon in church this morning... Just thought I would share. I NEED THAT!

4 comments:

Stephenie said...

We would all do good to be reminded of that message DAILY! Thanks for sharing. Hope things calm down for you and your church soon....

Beth Larkin said...

You know, we have a way of not having to speak, but knowing what the other is thinking. I love you Jill Elizabeth McCormick!

Samantha said...

Awesome message and reminder! Thanks for sharing!!!

Marylou said...

How easily we are distracted from what is truly important!