“But I want you to be
free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the
Lord, how he may please the Lord; but one who is married is concerned about the
things of the world, how he may please his wife, and his interests are divided.
The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of
the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married
is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.” (1
Corinthians 7:32–34, NASB95)
Marriage and relationships are good things. God designed us
that way. But with those relationships come bonds which pull us in different
directions and bring upon us varying demands. While these demands are ones we
often would not trade for the blessing of the bonds, they do set us in a place
of tension. It is even here, though, that we are called to give our undivided
attention to God, and to entrust every one of our relationships and our needs
to Him and trust Him to meet them.
These pressing issues can become monstrous tyrants when they
are seen apart from God and His power over every single one of them. These
demands can give us cause to lose hope when we lose sight that even the best of
things here is only temporary and pales in comparison to our awaiting
glorification and enjoyment of God forever in His presence. I do not know what
heaven holds for me, but I know that God has intended me to spend eternity with
Him in a relationship for which man was created but which was broken by sin.
Returning man to that kind of a relationship was even the joy which was set
before our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ when He laid down His life for us. In just
three verses of Hebrews 12 we see both those who have gone before and us who
are still waiting brought together because Jesus went to the cross.
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses
surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so
easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before
us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the
joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such
hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose
heart.” (Hebrews 12:1–3, NASB95)
Yesterday I wrote a bit about the battle we are engaged in
for our minds and included some Scripture from Ephesians 6. If you were to read
on from there in Ephesians you would find that it is Jesus who also equips us
for that battle so that we might live victoriously. And as we close our eyes
and think about our loved ones who have gone before and their opportunity now
to fully be in God’s presence, we can get a taste of the joy that moved God to send
us His Son and the joy which the Son has as we are presented back to Him as His
bride. The last chapters of Revelation talk about a glorious time when all of
this will come to a culmination and we will be given a new and permanent home.
“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep
seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set
your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have
died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life,
is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” (Colossians
3:1–4, NASB95)
Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (9/19)
There is a mighty battle going in for control of your mind. Heaven
and earth intersect in your mind; the tugs of both spheres influence your
thinking. I created you with the capacity to experience foretastes of heaven.
When you shut out the world and focus on My Presence, you can enjoy sitting
with Me in heavenly realms. This is an incredible privilege reserved for
precious ones who belong to Me and seek My Face. Your greatest strength is your
desire to spend time communing with Me. As you concentrate on Me, My Spirit
fills your mind with Life and Peace.
The world exerts a downward pull on your thoughts. Media
bombard you with greed, lust, and cynicism. When you face these things, pray
for protection and discernment. Stay in continual communication with Me
whenever you walk through the wastelands of this world. Refuse to worry,
because this form of worldliness will weigh you down and block awareness of My
Presence. Stay alert, recognizing the battle being waged against your mind.
Look forward to an eternity of strife-free living, reserved for you in heaven.
“When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your
face, O LORD, I shall seek.””
(Psalm 27:8, NASB95)
“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on
the Spirit is life and peace,” (Romans 8:6, NASB95)
No comments:
Post a Comment