This past weekend I did a retreat for the ladies of East Cooper Baptist Church and had an absolute ball getting to know a little more about Jesus with these precious ladies. On Sunday morning, instead of a planned message, I let them determine what I'd be talking about based on their questions.
It was kind of like going to a buffet where you can choose to have a little spaghetti and meatballs right alongside candied yams and oven roasted turkey. A smorgasbord of sorts.
So, I talked about all sorts of stuff based on the questions they'd submitted over the weekend.
But one question in particular stood out to me:
"How do I get close to the Lord? I've been a Christian for 7 years but over the past two years my joyful heart for the Lord has diminished. I feel like life has taken over and I've put Christ on the back burner. Do you have any advice for a girl who longs for the Lord but just winds up feeling such guilt for how much I fail in making time to pray and study the Bible?"
It reminded me of the story in Matthew 19 where Jesus talked to the rich young man who informed Jesus he was following all the rules but still felt something was missing from his pursuit of God.
Matthew 19: 20, "All of these (rules) I have kept," the young man said. What do I still lack?"
I doubt Mick Jagger got his inspiration from this story but this young man's desperate question sure does remind me of his wildly popular song, "I can't get no satisfaction... no, no, no."
Unsatisfied.
Lacking.
Incomplete.
Hollow.
Shallow.
What do I still lack?
How do I really get close to God?
Such a vulnerable question. Such a relatable question.
In verse 21 Jesus answers, "If you want to be perfect (whole), go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
The rich young man then goes away sad because he couldn't give up that which consumed him. He was so full with his riches he couldn't see how undernourished his soul was. Like a person who fills themselves up with doughnuts to the point they refuse the healthier options of eggs and fruit. Then they complain of their splitting headache from the crash of the sugar high but refuse to consider giving up their doughnuts.
I might have had a little personal experience once or twice in my past sugar filled life that led me to think of that frail little analogy. My apologies to Krispy Kreme and your red "Hot Now" sign that is of the devil. Ahem.
Anyhow.
It's this point that most of us ordinary Jesus girls start thinking of all the rich people we know. "Well, I sure hope they get this message. Good thing I'm not rich. Good thing this doesn't apply to me. Good thing Jesus doesn't ask me to sacrifice in this way."
Or does He?
I don't think Jesus meant this as a sweeping command for all those who have a lot of money. I think Jesus meant this for any of us that wallow in whatever abundance we have. I think Jesus looked straight into this young man's soul and said, "I want you to give up that which you love more than me. Then come, follow me."
Piercing thought, right?
Suddenly, Jesus isn't staring at the rich young man, He's staring at me. The inside me. The part I can't cover up with excuses and makeup.
For when Jesus ends his statement with "follow me" it's not an invitation to drag our divided heart alongside us as we attempt to follow hard after God. When Jesus wants us to follow Him- really follow him, it's serious business.
Mark 8:34, "If anyone would come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me."
With Jesus if we want to gain, we must give up.
If we want to be filled, we must deny ourselves.
If we want to truly get close to God, we'll have to distance ourselves from other things.
We'll talk a little more about this later this week. Tomorrow, I have a really cool guest post from a really cool chick I think you'll love.
In the meantime... what do you think about these thoughts? How does this speak to you personally?
Happy Monday sweet sisters.
It was kind of like going to a buffet where you can choose to have a little spaghetti and meatballs right alongside candied yams and oven roasted turkey. A smorgasbord of sorts.
So, I talked about all sorts of stuff based on the questions they'd submitted over the weekend.
But one question in particular stood out to me:
"How do I get close to the Lord? I've been a Christian for 7 years but over the past two years my joyful heart for the Lord has diminished. I feel like life has taken over and I've put Christ on the back burner. Do you have any advice for a girl who longs for the Lord but just winds up feeling such guilt for how much I fail in making time to pray and study the Bible?"
It reminded me of the story in Matthew 19 where Jesus talked to the rich young man who informed Jesus he was following all the rules but still felt something was missing from his pursuit of God.
Matthew 19: 20, "All of these (rules) I have kept," the young man said. What do I still lack?"
I doubt Mick Jagger got his inspiration from this story but this young man's desperate question sure does remind me of his wildly popular song, "I can't get no satisfaction... no, no, no."
Unsatisfied.
Lacking.
Incomplete.
Hollow.
Shallow.
What do I still lack?
How do I really get close to God?
Such a vulnerable question. Such a relatable question.
In verse 21 Jesus answers, "If you want to be perfect (whole), go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
The rich young man then goes away sad because he couldn't give up that which consumed him. He was so full with his riches he couldn't see how undernourished his soul was. Like a person who fills themselves up with doughnuts to the point they refuse the healthier options of eggs and fruit. Then they complain of their splitting headache from the crash of the sugar high but refuse to consider giving up their doughnuts.
I might have had a little personal experience once or twice in my past sugar filled life that led me to think of that frail little analogy. My apologies to Krispy Kreme and your red "Hot Now" sign that is of the devil. Ahem.
Anyhow.
It's this point that most of us ordinary Jesus girls start thinking of all the rich people we know. "Well, I sure hope they get this message. Good thing I'm not rich. Good thing this doesn't apply to me. Good thing Jesus doesn't ask me to sacrifice in this way."
Or does He?
I don't think Jesus meant this as a sweeping command for all those who have a lot of money. I think Jesus meant this for any of us that wallow in whatever abundance we have. I think Jesus looked straight into this young man's soul and said, "I want you to give up that which you love more than me. Then come, follow me."
Piercing thought, right?
Suddenly, Jesus isn't staring at the rich young man, He's staring at me. The inside me. The part I can't cover up with excuses and makeup.
For when Jesus ends his statement with "follow me" it's not an invitation to drag our divided heart alongside us as we attempt to follow hard after God. When Jesus wants us to follow Him- really follow him, it's serious business.
Mark 8:34, "If anyone would come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me."
With Jesus if we want to gain, we must give up.
If we want to be filled, we must deny ourselves.
If we want to truly get close to God, we'll have to distance ourselves from other things.
We'll talk a little more about this later this week. Tomorrow, I have a really cool guest post from a really cool chick I think you'll love.
In the meantime... what do you think about these thoughts? How does this speak to you personally?
Happy Monday sweet sisters.
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