For the Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ
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.
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.
The world isn’t only changing through people with powerful voices and sharp minds. The world is changing by people, genuinely disturbed by the lack of hope and the world’s craving to be seen, known, and loved.
There is beauty in disturbance when it draws us nearer to God’s heart.
I am thankful for the “heart connections” I have around the world simply by being a part of God’s family. The church is a precious gift to each of us as believers. It is a form of accountability and support as those striving for the same goal, this “upward call of our God in Christ Jesus.”
What do I know of Calvary love? Oh, how precious little I know. What small and selfish lenses of love I am prone to see through!
I pray that He would teach me to love the way He does. Just as He sees my brokenness, my doubts, my messes…and loves anyway. Just as He knows I’ll be faithless a thousand times and more…and loves anyway.
Lord, help me love anyway.
We are created to ask questions, seek answers, and desire knowledge. However, in this post, I am going to suggest something that might sound a bit crude but is meant entirely as a basic observation.
What is it, you ask?
Well, quite simply…perhaps this generation doesn’t value knowledge as it should.
Christmas is certainly a time to celebrate God’s breathtaking gift to mankind…this beautiful love-offering to humanity. But it is also a call to sacrifice. If the King of Heaven could step down from His glorious throne, shouldn’t we be willing…eager, even…to step away from our already humble and chaotic lives?
Friend, this earth is not your home.
These past few days I have been thinking a lot about the various paths we take in our journey as Christians. I’ve been thinking about the times God has called me – and others – down a specific road only to randomly whisper “take a turn, I have a different road for you now.” And I’ve been thinking about how our God seems to love surprises.
But here’s what I’ve been thinking about most: whether life is beyond simple right now or you’re in a whirlwind of unknowns…I hope you give it all you’ve got.
When all we see is worthless, invaluable, and hopelessly broken, Yahweh is still looking compassionately upon His lost sheep whispering “I love you. I’m still fighting for you. I’m not finished yet.”
And friends? We need to be praying. We need to be desperately and sincerely praying for the lost and hurting souls around the world. Because they matter to Him.
I know it is quite easy for our schedules to turn into habits and our habits to turn into boring norms that don’t seem too exciting or purposeful. But don’t give up on the here and now. Because by doing that who knows what other opportunities you could be giving up on as well? Who knows what lives might be touched, mindsets changed, and hurt mended?
Follow Jesus right here; be a light in a dark world right now.