No, that's not a typo. God dropped this truth in my heart this week about the blessing's of life.
I have been so in love before. So in love and so overwhelmed and consumed in that love. The blessing was so good and sweet and I was so grateful to God.
And that love was so sweet in fact that I started to lose track of all other things. My focus, which through the blessing was drawn to God, is now being drawn to the blessing instead of God. It's just a small thing. It's not a huge, blasphemous type of distraction. It's not even a bad thing. I mean, God gave it to me right! So God most definitely wants me to have it and gave it to me to steward. But the more focus I put on this blessing, the less focus I put on the Lord. Before I know it, what was given to me to bless me has now become an idol for me.
Yes, I could love this man for the rest of my life. I could grow cold with him.
Luke 17 tells about ten men with leprosy who came to Jesus, begging for a miracle. Verse 14:17 shows the miracle.
"When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Oh praise the Lord! We so need and want that blessing! This was the mans life. He lived in sickness and sorrow, isolated and broken and alone. He needed a miracle. It was more then just a simple desire. So much more then say, a desire to be married or a desire for children. It really was a need. So when Jesus was willing and gave the miracle, he didn't retract it, just because the other nine didn't return to hallow his name. Those nine went on with their lives to grow old, but also cold. I don't want to be the nine. I want to be that one who returns to God. Yes, even if it means that I don't receive the blessing. In fact, I'd rather not receive the blessing, if it means that I am going to grow cold.
I could grow old with a wonderful man and walk slowly, slowly, slowly away, away, away. Instead of standing in the fire, for the world to be saved, I could go with a man, a blessing from the Lord, and grow old and cold together. But I don't want anything that leads me away from You. Beyond that, I don't want anything that will distract me at all from you. Yes, even a blessing that I believe I need. If I have to live in the fire and be burned by the fire, I would rather stand in the fire with You then stand outside watching and not be changed by you. But you are so good. You don't let the fire burn us up. In fact, we do come out, not even smelling of smoke. And You pour out your blessing over us. Lord, my prayer is never let the blessing take your place. Hallowed be your name always.
Matthew 6:9-13
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
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