There is a question I sometimes get asked which is, “Why do I have to do this, or not do that?” That can be in relation to “why do I give, forgive, abstain from premarital sex, help others even when I don’t want to, serve, use my gifts to bless others, love and be kind?
There is so many why questions and if I’m honest I have discovered one rather simple answer. I don’t want to do, say, go, or enter into anything that is not Jesus’ best for me, or which does not honour both Him and the relationship I have with Him.
Jesus put it even simpler when He said, If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15)
Every single day I have opportunities to step a little to the left or to the right of what I know is God’s best for me. Every day I am faced with choices as to whether I am going to do things which will inadvertently or purposefully cause me to distance myself from my relationship and the closeness I have with Jesus or not. He never ignores or withdraws His presence or love from me, but I can definitely separate my heart, affections and thoughts from Him by my choices and actions. I’ve learnt however that when I distance and separate my heart and thoughts from Him I become like a ship without a rudder and the world lessens in life and colour for me.
Our relationship with Jesus is much like any other relationship we can have, in the sense that it takes two. It takes my wanting to be close to Him, to want to know His heart, His voice and His purpose. He has reached out to us, but the question is how will we respond on a daily basis to Him. We can get busy, ignore what He says, take this relationship for granted and blatantly do the other thing when it comes to listening to Him and what He says in the bible and to our hearts. Or we can lean in close, focus all our attention on the quietest of His whispers and choose to hang on every Word He says.
There really isn’t many why’s that matter, just who! When we can answer that all the other questions and decisions in life get easy.
Who do we want to know? Who do we want to please and how much do we want our life and choices to honour all that Jesus has done and means to us? It’s much like the parable Jesus told. Knowing Him and the things of heaven are like a man who found a single precious pearl. On realising it’s value the man went out and sold all that he had so he could buy this single pearl – to him it became the pearl of great price, for he would have given up all to have it.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, and upon finding a single pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”(Matthew 13: 45-46)
Fortunately we don’t have to buy anything because a relationship with Jesus is a free gift. He did all the giving up when He gave His life and then rose again for us. (John 3:16) If there is anything we are ever asked to forgo it is for our own good and nothing compared to the gift and privilege of knowing Jesus and walking in the peace and purpose that He gives. He promises that if we seek Him first and His way of doing things then He will add everything else that is good to our lives. (Matthew 6:33)
I encourage you today to take the time to determine your WHO! Life gets much easier, decisions are simple and the peace that comes in knowing that nothing comes before knowing Jesus is worth giving up everything to discover and keep.
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11 Amp)
“And I continually long to know the wonders of Jesus more fully and to experience the overflowing power of his resurrection working in me”. (Philippians 3:10)
Prayer: Jesus I want to know you and who you are more fully. Please show me if there is anything that is getting in the way of being able to hear your voice clearly and to know your heart and presence deeply today. In Jesus name Amen.
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