TEMPORARY LOVE
Carey Madding
Today's Scripture: “But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?’ Galatians 4:9, NIV
Theme: If we don’t prioritize knowing God and His Word, we will fall away and be less than He intended.
FALLING AWAY
You’ve done it. I’ve done it. We start a new habit with great intentions and intensity. Maybe you brought your friends on board and talked about it incessantly, selling the benefits and joys of the [diet, gym, beauty product, etc.]. I know I have discovered a new product and become a walking billboard, like for “press-on nails” at one point! We hop on and off so many bandwagons that we are cheap and worthless testimonials. I am certain people notice my “falling away” as often as they now ignore my new product endorsements!
GOOD SOIL
The Parable of the Sower speaks of many kinds of soil. Some hearts are like the path: they are hard and just totally ignore the Word of God. Some hearts have good soil and bring a huge harvest. But the types of “hearers” that worry me are the rocky soil and the soil in the weeds. Both receive the Word of God, and start growing in their faith, but they give up. Jesus’ explanation is that the cares, distractions, or the troubles of this world dissuade them, and they give up. They fall away. They revert to their former way of life.
It is crucial that we know God, not just know about Him. If I am continually learning to fall more in love with Him and learning how to hear and follow Him, I am being pulled farther and farther into a Spirit-led life. I begin abiding in Him, not just looking towards Him; not doing a checklist of things, but moving and breathing with the Spirit. That is the goal: “For in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28a, NIV)
Make It Personal: To remain in love with God, just like in a human relationship, you must invest time. A quiet time with Jesus, in the Word of God, sharing your heart through prayer and listening to God’s heart: this is what sustains a relationship. Jesus made a way for us to come to Him. He made the overtures, and those who have accepted Him are in a relationship. Now, remain in His presence and invest in that bond of love, so that you don’t become bored and fall away. The former things cannot compare to the priceless love of God.
Pray: Father, it amazes me how often I am caught up in some new thing. I am drawn to acquiring and experiencing material things, when what You have for me is so much more. Life in the Spirit cannot be compared to a possession. Help me to value Jesus above any earthly person or thing. Help me to center my heart and thoughts on things above, not the temporary, fleeting things of this earth. Help me not to neglect You, Lord, for such trivial reasons. In Jesus’ Name. Amen
Read: Matthew 13:1-10, 18-23; Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:8-9
Weekly Memory Verse: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27, ESV