For the Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ
Somehow, the dry, dusty brown of this earth has a way of sinking its fangs into the most beautiful fragments of creation and dimming their light. The earth was meant to be a flourishing place, yet, the dead places strip the live places of their beauty and turn creation into a wasteland.
But there is still goodness here.
Do you hear the heartbeat of creation’s song? Do you hear the anthem of His people’s praise? Shh…listen. It is all around you. It is filling the air, it is blessing this ground.
The saints are singing a new song unto their worthy God!
Are you singing?
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?
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.
“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
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.”