Readings for today: Psalms 19-22, Acts 19
Have you ever found yourself longing for revival? Not just an emotional high or spiritual mountaintop but something much deeper? Something on a soul-level? Have you ever found yourself longing for wisdom? Not just intellectual knowledge but the deep wisdom that flows from knowing yourself as God knows you? Have you ever found yourself longing for joy? Not just temporary happiness or pleasure but a deep, transcendent level of joy that is in no way dependent on life’s circumstances? Have you ever found yourself longing for purity? Longing to be set free from destructive patterns? Longing to be set free from the power of sin? Longing to see rather than stumble blindly through life?
What if I told you I had found the way? What if I told you the way was open to anyone who would seek it? What if I told you there were no pre-conditions you had to meet? No prerequisites you had to take? No hoops you had to jump through in order to join? What if I told you those who followed the way had found something more precious than gold? Sweeter than honey? And those who kept to the way, those who persevered to the end, were given a great reward? Would you consider it? Would you follow it?
What would you be willing to sacrifice for such a life? What would you be willing to give up for such a gift? Would you give up your pride? Give up control? Would you surrender yourself wholly and completely to it? Would you commit yourself - body and soul - to following it? Listen to these words from Psalm 19 again…
“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:7-11)
All the promises of God are available to those who would seek Him. All the gifts of God are given to those who seek to follow Him with their whole hearts. Yes, the way requires surrender. Yes, the way requires relinquishment. Yes, the way requires sacrificing all that we are so that we might gain all God has for us. But the reward is worth it! The riches God has stored up for us in Christ are beyond comprehension! As Jim Elliott - a missionary martyred for his faith - once said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 23-24, Acts 20:1-16