Your Heart Moved

Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:9 (NLT)

Eve was living her life. She had a comfortable place to live. She had everything she needed to thrive. One day, she was walking in the neighborhood and she encountered a newcomer. As she talked to him, there was a restlessness that began to creep into her mind.

As he talked, he began to suggest that there were things in her life that were missing. Take for example this beautiful fruit. “Why aren’t you enjoying it? It’s right there in front of you. All you have to do it take it.”

Eve began to ponder that. Why wasn’t she enjoying it? Then she remembered, God said no. God said that was not important for her life of happiness. She relayed this to the newcomer and he said “Nonsense!” Everyone needs to branch out and try new things. This, this will complete you. It will bring you fulfillment.”

Eve was convinced. She ate the fruit and then shared it with her husband.

After they obtained what they thought they could never have, things weren’t quite the same. The restlessness was worse. The feeling that something was broken weighed heavy on their minds. As they were trying to sort through this, God showed up. He called out “Where are you?”

God wasn’t looking for their physical location. He knew their exact spot. He was asking more about their hearts. “What happened to make your heart afraid? What caused this distance between us? Where did you go?”

It is so easy for us to follow the path of Eve…..I think we get distracted by the sparkly stuff all the time.

If only I made more money, things would be easier. If I had a life partner, I would be able to move on with my life. If I could just __________________ (you fill in the blank), I would be set. We all do it. What we don’t do is figure God’s question into the equation. You see, God doesn’t care about any of those things. What he cares about is how you answer his question; “Where are you?”

So let me ask you today. Where is your heart? What is more important to you than your relationship with Jesus? Are you really sure obtaining that will fix the restlessness in your soul?

I Choose You First

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Genesis 3:6 (NLT)

People ask "Why did God tempt Adam and Eve by putting the tree in the garden?" Let's be clear, God did not tempt Adam and Eve. God put the tree in the garden and told them what he wanted. Satan tempted Eve. And Eve chose what she thought would bring her the most pleasure in that moment.

The same thing happens with us every day. God says "This is the life I want for you. These are the things that will bring you blessings. Choose me and your life with be abundant." And we look at it and say "BUT, if I choose this other thing that isn't in your list of good stuff, I will be ___________." Fill in the blank (Happy. Rich. Successful. Popular). And then we think we can have what we want and God too.

Wrong. You can't. Now let's be clear. God loves you. He wants the very best for you. But what he cares about the most is your salvation. He cares more about that than your happy, successful, profitable state of mind. Eve figured that out. She got her taste of delicious. And her wisdom sure did grow because of that one decision (we all grow when we make bad decisions don't we?). But she also paid for choosing herself first.

Did God still provide? Yes. Did God still show up? Yes. But it wasn't the same. There was a distance between them that didn't exist before. I don't want that. I want to choose what God wants so I can stay close and connected. Will I temporarily be unsatisfied with my status quo? Probably. In the end will it matter? No.

Father God, Please. Help me in my humanness to choose you first above everything. Amen

Friday, Feb 3

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

The word seek in this verse has the following definition.

to seek in order to find...
to seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into
to seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after
to crave, demand something from someone

I like the definition ‘to crave.’ I think this accurately describes the way we are to look for God. Think of the way you would crave a pizza or a dessert. Think of the way you would crave time with a loved one. That’s the way we are supposed to seek after God. When we crave something, we find ways to get it. We think about it, plan for it and make it a priority. I also like the way the GNT translation puts it

Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things. (GNT)