What is the most Holy moment of your day? Maybe your quiet time, or small group meeting, or listening to a worship CD? Author Max Lucado, thinks the most Holy moment is when you get up in the morning, when your pyjamas are crumpled, your face would scare the dog and your breath would stain the walls. That's the "you" that God sees, and that's the "you" that God loves. So, take your shower and put on your deodorant. Do it for the sake of those you will sit next to, but you don't have to do it for God.
I was saying yesterday that it is hard to get it into our heads just how much God loves us. Of course, we will never realise the full extent of His love, but even just to believe that he loves us at all can sometimes seem a struggle, and that struggle can give way to addictions.
We are in good company in the struggle though, as Jesus was tempted along the lines of addictions and cravings. He was tempted to seek comfort for his hunger by turning stones into bread, to seek assurance of God's love by throwing himself off the temple and to have the angels save him, and to seek power by claiming the Kingdoms of the world. If you didn't know these temptations were from the Devil, they sound quite reasonable (maybe except the throwing yourself off the temple!). You could almost imagine justifying them as being from God – surely he wants to satisfy our hunger, and wants everyone to know His love and worship Jesus? Yet Jesus was secure enough in his Father's love to know their source was not Him.
Kenny Borthwick shared something quite profound. He said if you want to get anywhere with God, you sometimes have to leave something not satisfied. It may be you are desperately seeking comfort or love or assurance, but if doing that thing takes you outside the will of God – don't do it.
Jon Seaton
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