First Things First

Oh, where to begin?

I rolled over and opened my eyes this morning, and my mind promptly engaged.

He was in the room.

It's Christmas.

The time of the year we set aside to celebrate His first coming.

He truly is spectacular.

I don't think we can possibly grasp this concept in its uncloaked rawness.

Last night, as I laid in the bed, talking softly with Him, I said outloud, "Who are You to me really?"

I then was struck silent; pondering the heavy question put there by His Spirit.

We use inadequate words to try and describe who He is to us, but words fall so short.

As my regular readers know, I have grappled with my cousin's husband's raw walk into widowhood this year.   Who is God to him...really?

I myself have been traversing territory I thought surely would have been avoided, but alas it's here.  Who is God to me ....really?

A mom last night sat in the ER with her young son, cast being put on his leg. Who is God to her...really?

Be they but a brief moment or a chronic season with no known end point, who is God REALLY?

I let the Spirit's words sit on me as I closed my eyes last night -- and they were still there this morning --

In His presence this morning, there came this analogy I want to share with you. It helped me put my relationship with Him into check.... perhaps it'll help you assess where you are, too.

In marriage, the husband is commanded to leave his father and his mother - and join to his wife.

Likewise we are commanded to leave everything..... and join to Him.... are we not?

Now, think with me.  I'm probably accurate in stating that we ALL could name at least one marriage relationship where the commanded leaving never happened; where the husband, with great futility, tried to walk the fence between wife's desires and parents' desires.  Did it go well for ANY party?

Now, think with me.  I'm probably accurate in stating that we ALL could name at least one fellow believer (perhaps self?) where the commanded leaving never happened; where the believer, with great futility, tried to walk the fence between God's desires and world's desires.   Did it go well for ANY party?

I wonder why it is often so much easier to identify the looming disaster in a marriage, but we turn a blind eye to the GREATER looming disaster in our relationship with God?

God said: put Him first.....it's not a suggestion....it's a command.

God said: husbands leave father and mother... it's not a suggestion... it's a command.

"God said" is supposed to teach us essential  bare-bones, basic principles of obedient living.

What's the core issue in BOTH the above debacle scenarios?  Disobedience.

When we put Him first, He puts the desire in us to put others first..... and in that mysterious Divine place.... a Kingdom exchange occurs: "So the last shall be first, and the first last."

Want to be that believer who brings His Kingdom to this broken earth?  You have to obey Him.... NO addenda....NO rationalizations...NO exceptions.

Remember: the devil knows who Jesus is.... he just never chose to obey Him.  Therein came his destiny.  Therein lies yours.  Let that sit on you a good long while.

"My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me."

No addenda.
No rationalizations.
No exceptions.

So, as I let the words sit on me....I ask you:

This Christmas, who is He to you ... really?