If you spend time with a person, you'll quickly learn what he or she values. We tend to talk about the things that are most important to us. We can even be preoccupied with these things. In fact, for some, priorities have grown into obsessions.
According to yourdictionary.com, obsession is defined as the act of letting a thought or action rule your thoughts or actions. On social media, I find some who are obsessed on differing sides of the vaccination topic. Many have been obsessed about the last election. Many are obsessed with their favorite football team.
Where are the people who are obsessed with Jesus? Where are the folks who have a sacred obsession?
A while back, I watched a video about the Jesus Movement that occurred in the United States around 1970. I was struck with the obsession these young people had. They worshiped with excitement, witnessed everywhere with boldness and studied their Bibles with expectation. They had a sacred obsession. Many of these young people are now leading churches, seminaries and para-church organizations.
Let me pose this question. Is there a valid reason why Christians shouldn't obsessed with Jesus today? More to the point: Why aren't you obsessed?
We have allowed the world to mold our thought-process. We have been influenced too greatly by our society. A man with a spiritual obsession is considered to be “weird.” We try to avoid such a reputation. Instead, we have conveniently reduced our spiritual involvement to a few minutes in church on Sunday mornings, if at all.
Let's be honest about it. If the Gospel is not true, we shouldn't be obsessed with it. In fact, we should shove it aside and label it as a lie. However, if the Gospel is true (and it is), shouldn't it be something we are obsessed with? The Gospel addresses a life and death situation bringing good news to a hopeless race. The Gospel is the message desperately needed by a dying world, but rarely articulated by those who claim to believe it. Even worse, as recipients of grace, we act as though the Gospel is not so great after all.
It is time we remember what it was like to be lost. Think of the great guilt that we accumulated. Consider the magnitude of our crimes against a holy God. Then we need to spend quality time thinking about Calvary and Jesus dying in our place so we could be saved. The Gospel was good news to us when we were saved. We passed from death to life. It thrilled our souls.
It is time to get back to where we started. Too many of us are like Martha. She was busy and stressed out over little things while, simultaneously, missing out on sweet fellowship with Jesus, who was just feet away from her. Let us strive be more like Mary who sat at Jesus' feet, listening to His Word. She was captivated with her Lord. She had a sacred obsession.
Jesus is near right now. How sad it is to avoid Him while trying to do His work. It is tragic to neglect Jesus because you are consumed with “more important things.”
Push aside everything right now and spend quality time with Jesus. Share your thoughts, burdens and concerns with Him in prayer. Open your Bible and receive His Word in your heart. Return to your first love and bask in His love once more.
We need to have a sacred obsession once more!
No comments:
Post a Comment