It is ironic how the one thing that matters the most in our life is the one thing that our time is devoted to the least. We are graced with the privilege of communing with a living God. "We are His and He is ours..." (Heb. 8: 10). Notice the sense of ownership in these words. He is ours! We are His! Never again should our identity flee our understanding of who we truly are. " For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!..." (Rom. 8: 15). The effects of the Gospel in our lives should undoubtedly be a closer and intimate communion with the Father.
Does this make sense? Jesus did NOT come so that we might just utter a prayer and live our lives still separated from the Father. The whole purpose for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was that our deserved wrath could be transferred into Jesus' account, while we then can finally enter into the presence of God boldly and confidently. Jesus died so that we can KNOW the Father. This truth can only mean that our heartless prayers are not acceptable in the sight of God. Our one-two, Sunday-school responses are not intimate enough. Jesus died for our hearts to be set free. Our response should be that of the Psalmist in Psalm 73: 25, "Whom have I in heaven but you, and Earth has nothing I desire besides You..." We are literally told that everything on Earth will pass away. Though we know this, we live our lives glued to the things of this world.
I am convinced that the one thing nobody can take away from us is our hope in Christ, and the precious love of God. Paul says, " I count all things as garbage compared to the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord..." (Phil. 3: 8). He proclaims, " I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor heights, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 8: 38-39). It's quite encouraging to know that even in his chains Paul preached the love of God joyfully.
This isn't the newest and latest christian pop trend. Jesus did this. He modeled and demonstrated for us HOW to seek the Father. I like the way Fil Anderson puts it...
"For the first time I realized how single-minded and centered He was. It was obvious that Jesus lived an extremely busy life. All I had to do was pay attention to His preaching, teaching, healing and interacting with opponents and friends to see how hard it was for Him to remain focused on the 'one necessary thing.' However, and this is crucial, His busyness never threatened the one thing that mattered most. Although busy, Jesus wasn't trying to reach some selfish goal He had set or allowed others to impose. To the contrary, He was concerned with only one thing: DOING THE WILL OF GOD! We see this from His first recorded words from the temple, ("Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" [Luke 2: 49]) to His last words on the cross ("Father, into your hands I commit My spirit" [Luke 23: 46])."
Running on Empty
By: Fil Anderson
How are your quiet times? Do you see them as a cultural norm that you are simply doing to get by? Or can you cry out "Abba! Father!" and pursue a real authentic communion with the living God that declares you His and allows you to declare Him yours! Is your joy and countenance radically effected by this relationship? Is there fruit or evidence of this relationship? God is waiting, knocking at the very core of your being asking to be let in (Rev. 3: 20). What is your response?
