For the Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ
Rue Arrow is soul-pondering, rain-dancing, dawn-seeking child of the Father with deep feeling and intrigue for both the blessings and the brokenness in this messy thing called life. Her desire is simply to honor Jesus, "counting everything as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:8). You can further journey with her in this endless pursuit of God's heart through her blog: This Messy Thing Called Life.
As humans we live in a world that is temporarily ruled by a king of darkness. This darkness leads us to utter blindness. And the paradox of the darkness is that we must acknowledge it to be rid of it.
We must acknowledge our blindness.
For who can give sight to a man who sees? And God wills that we see what the blind men see.
Just as in the garden of Eden, where freewill brought mankind to shame through their own weakness, our freewill delights in attracting us to fleeting pleasures and distracting us from holy nearness.
God is near, yes. But it is our duty to pursue His nearness. The knowledge of nearness is futile should our souls never feast on the beauty of it all.
Yet He is not far from each one of us.
God’s blessing to us are the offerings of a sacred testimony – a fragrant sacrifice which declares the knowledge of Him to craving souls. Our response to these blessings reveals a great deal about our heart.
May my heart delight in rendering praise to His throne, from whence all blessings flow. May I know the utter Beauty of His testimony which He weaves into every gracious gift He bestows.
May my anthem be that I am filled to be emptied again.
Is Jesus enough for me?
I have, ashamedly, found a griping spirit deep within. As I dwell upon my frustrations and human weariness, my soul is convicted with a still, small voice which whispers, “am I enough for you?”
Do I live as though my cup overflows?
As the first missionaries were sent unto the uttermost – as Jesus beckoned, “come and die” – He gave them a glimpse of hope. He gave them a comfort for the lonely nights on their long journeys. He gave them a reason to smile in the seasons of deepest despair.
From the first breath of their calling, Jesus directed them onward, upward.
He beckoned them “follow Me.” And in the weight of those words lies the beauty of a fleeting life redeemed with overflowing fullness.
Because we trust the Shepherd who guides us unto death.
The wise men gave of themselves for Jesus. They gave of their time and lives – choosing a journey to an unknown destination. Am I willing to give all? To give gold as to a King? Myrrh as to His Mortal Heart? And Incense as to a Living God?
My heart still holds back in the still of this world’s echoing hesitations to surrender all. But in the deepest crevice of my soul, I am beckoned to give back to my fullest. I am beckoned to try.
And so, I will try.
The God of the Israelites’ wilderness is the same God of the Israelites’ parted sea. The God of David’s valley of the shadow of doubt is the same God of Calvary’s hill. He does not change that I might better see Him. My faith is strengthened that I might better seek Him. And in seeking Him I see Him.
Therefore, my soul cannot help but tell of the treasure in the lowly places. For He is working there.
And I don’t want to miss it.
If I really love those around me, their salvation should be ever on my mind. Because no matter how kind I am or how loving I am or how many people consider me a “safe place” …I can’t save them.
So I have to speak of the good.
I have to tell of the One who came to redeem and restore.
In a world where hell keeps laughing…I must speak life.
We live in a world of broken nights. We live in a land of shattered hearts. Our lives are endless poems without rhymes; tapestries unraveling in a tangled storm.
But this is our hope, that one day Christ will return. And on that day all the praise will go to Jesus.
All the praise. . .to Him alone.
“There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word, spiritual strength for labour in His service. We ought to muse upon the things of God because we thus get the real nutriment out of them…” -Charles Spurgeon