Why, Why, Why! “Why do I have to do this, or not do that?” Our, “Why” questions can be something we do a lot of.
“Why do we have to forgive people, give of our resources, abstain from premarital sex or be faithful to our partner, help others even when we don’t feel like it, serve, be honest, use our gifts to bless others and be loving and kind?
There are so many “Why” questions and if I’m honest there is a very simple answer. I don’t want to do, say, or enter into anything that is not Jesus’ best for me and isn’t honouring to the relationship I have with Him.
Jesus put it even simpler when He said, If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15)
Every single day we all have opportunities to step a little to the left or to the right of what is God’s best for our lives. We are faced with choices as to whether we are going to do things which will inadvertently or purposefully cause us to distance ourselves from our relationship with Jesus or not. He never ignores or withdraws His presence or love from us, but we can definitely separate our hearts, affections and thoughts from Him. I’ve learnt however that when I separate my heart and thoughts away from Him I become like a ship without a rudder and the world decreases in life and colour for me.
Our relationship with Jesus is just like any other relationship we have, in the sense that it takes two. It takes my wanting to be close to Him, to know His heart, His voice and His purpose. He has reached out to us, but the question is how will we respond on a daily basis to Him. We can get busy, ignore what He says, take our relationship for granted and blatantly walk out of step with Him. Or we can lean in close, focus all our attention on the quietest of His whispers and choose to hang on every Word He says.
There really isn’t many “whys” that matter, just who! When we can answer that all the other questions and decisions in life get easy.
Who do we want to know? Who do we want to please and how much do we want our life and choices to honour all that Jesus has done and means to us? It’s much like the parable Jesus told. Knowing Jesus and the things of heaven are like a man who found a single precious pearl. On realising it’s value the man went out and sold all that he had so he could buy this pearl – to him it became the pearl of great price, for he’d have given up everything to have it.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, and upon finding a single pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”(Matthew 13: 45-46)
Fortunately we don’t have to buy anything because a relationship with Jesus is a free gift. He did all the giving when He gave His life and then rose again for us. (John 3:16) If there is anything we are ever asked to forgo it is for our own good and nothing compared to the gift of knowing Jesus and walking in the peace and purpose that He gives. He promises that if we seek Him first and His way of doing things then He’ll add everything else we could ever possibly desire to our lives. (Matthew 6:33)
I encourage you today to take the time to determine your WHO in life! Life gets much easier, decisions are simple and the peace that comes in knowing that nothing comes before knowing Jesus is worth giving up everything to discover and keep it.
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11 Amp)
“And I continually long to know the wonders of Jesus more fully and to experience the overflowing power of his resurrection working in me”. (Philippians 3:10)
Prayer: Jesus I want to know you and who you are more fully. Please show me if there is anything that is getting in the way of being able to hear your voice clearly and knowing your heart and presence more deeply today. In Jesus name Amen.
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