We expend all of life - our money, time and relationships - trying to keep things in tact. Most of the walls we build, are walls around our heart. Most of the vacations we invest in, are ultimately from painful memories... We fear stopping, in case there is nothing that meets us there. We fear the silence, in case there is no word or song of reassurance that comes to us there. We run and strain to find hope and healing and peace. In some respects, however, we are running to find God, when He has already come to find us. Jesus said, 'I have come to seek and save the lost.' (Luke 19:10) Maybe by 'seeking', you miss being 'found'? These words of Jesus shake the earth and indeed all things temporal. If you hear these words, and in faith go through the 'door', you enter into life eternal. Stop running. Let your heart 'break', and the light of Jesus will pour in and heal! 'Come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest.' Matthew 11:28 'Jesus said, 'I am the door, and everyone who enters through me will be saved.'' John 10:9
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I have lost love, opportunity and character, because I doubted. I doubted myself, I doubted others, I doubted the 'signs', I doubted the 'warnings', I doubted truth and wisdom... There is one 'doubt' that literally costs us everything... If you doubt how much God loves you, you can - and will - lose everything. Why? Because you will not, therefore, go to him. Paul prays for us, asking that we would know 'how long and wide, deep and long is the love of Christ...' He goes on to ask that we would 'know this love that surpasses knowledge.' Why? So that we would be 'filled with the full measure of God.' (Eph 3:14-21) If we do not accept the love of God towards us, through the invitation of Christ, we will miss God's gift of forgiveness and eternal life. What is the 'invitation' of Jesus Christ? It is this: that we turn from our sin, and follow Jesus. Have you repented of your sin this day, and put your faith in Jesus Christ? Jesus encouraged us to pray! He actually told a parable once, with the express purpose that we would 'persist' in prayer! (Luke 18:1-8) So, yes, pour out your heart to the Lord. He hears. He bottles your tears. (Psalm 56:8) And he will bring you victory! But here is a key moment in scripture, that teaches us much. Let me share with you... When a lame man was brought to Jesus for healing, Jesus looked at him, and Jesus' 'first words' to him were, 'Your sins are forgiven.' (Luke 5:20) Jesus heard the man's prayer, that is, his hope and request for physical healing. And Jesus did go on to heal him. But the 'first words' of Jesus, the first 'act' of Jesus in this moment, was to give this man a deep, eternal prize - forgiveness of sins, and eternal life! Don't miss the deeper and wider and more eternal 'first words' that Jesus is whispering to you, and giving you, while you are in the act of asking for something else. Jesus will hear your cry and answer your prayer, but he may be 'first' giving you a spiritual touch, a soul healing, an identity promise. What is he saying to you? What are his first words to you at this time? Listen for this! 'He will seek me, and he will find me, when he seeks me with all his heart!' Jeremiah 29:13 Many moons ago I watched Beckett’s ‘Godot’ in the ‘Beckett Theatre’, Trinity College Dublin. Godot never showed up. There is a proverb that says, ‘Hope deferred makes the heart grow sick…’ (Proverbs 13:12a) I’ve never waited on ‘Godot’, but I have – and do – wait on God, and I want to share 2 things about this. The first thing is very similar to waiting on Godot, the second is very different:
(Jn 17:3; Jn 11:35/Rm 12:15; Ps 56:8; 2 Cor 12:9-10; Lk 18:1-8) Looking for purpose... means it is not something we already have and hold. We trek all over the globe to 'find' meaning, find self, find purpose... At a certain point we have to stop, and acknowledge, that Another holds the keys! One scripture that I find deep and fascinating, is where Paul was preaching to the people of Athens. He states God's 'purpose' in making all mankind, in all times and seasons (including you and I, here and now!) 'God made all nations in all times and seasons... He did this so that they would seek him, reach out for him and find him.' (Acts 17:26-27) God made us and 'purposed' us to seek God. Do you seek God? God's ultimate 'reach' towards us, was to become like us, in the form of man, Jesus Christ. In this way, God reaches out to us, to find us. Do you reach out to him, to find him? Your ultimate, spirit-filled purpose is bound to knowing Christ! 'Jesus said, 'I am the door. Anyone who comes through me will be saved.' (John 10:9) My friend, you know it's true. Was it your father? Was it your mother? Is it your son? Is it your spouse? Now that it's gone, you know... when it's gone, you'll know... What 'love' truth are you seeing and missing today? Please dare to consider these 2 brief truths:
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AuthorPeter Walker. I hope you enjoy these reflections. Please feel free to comment!:) Archives
February 2024
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