Sunday, December 02, 2007

Treasuring Christ

Asaph gets lost in the distraction of looking at people rather than God. In Psalm 73, he confesses to losing perspective by focusing on the apparent prosperity and success of others. This is a common problem in my life. I value more the opinion of people than the approval of God. Like Asaph, my vision becomes clouded by the things people own and distorted by the approval of others (v. 12). When this happens my heart and mind become filled with grief, bitterness, frustration and ignorance (v. 21-22). A transformation occurs when the Psalmist brings himself into the eternal presence of God. Oh, that I might be free of this attachment to the constant awareness of the presence of man. When Asaph steps into the sanctuary of God he sees clearly the frailty and finality of humanity (v. 16). At this point God becomes everything as he responds to God, “You hold me . . . You guide me . . . You take me into glory . . . Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” (vv. 23-25). I want to say from my heart with Asaph, “it is good to be near God.” (v. 28).

The latest issue of Discipleship Journal has some challenging words from a Christian Classic. When I get my DJ in the mail the first thing I do is turn to the last page. Here I find the enduring words of the followers of Jesus from ages past. This month’s feature is an excerpt from Thomas A. Kempis’ The Imitation of Christ. He writes about the incomparable treasure of loving Christ. My journey is to love Christ above all others. To be so filled with devotion to Him that everything else in this world fades in comparison.
Blessed are those who appreciate what it is to love Jesus. He alone should be loved above all things. Affection for [created things] is deceitful and inconstant, but the love of Jesus is true and enduring. Whoever clings to a creature will fall because of its frailty. But those who give themselves to Jesus will ever be strengthened.
Love him, then. Keep him as a friend. He will not leave you as others do or let you suffer lasting death. Sometime, whether or not you will, you will have to part with everything. Cling, therefore, to Jesus in life and death. Trust yourself to the glory of Him who alone can help you when all others fail. Your Beloved is just; He will not accept what belongs to another. He wants your heart for Himself alone, because it is His right to be enthroned there as King.
You will find, apart from Him, that nearly all the trust you place in men is a total loss. Therefore, neither confide in nor depend upon a wind-shaken reed, for “all flesh is grass,” and all its glory, like the flower of grass, will fade away (Isaiah 40:6). You will quickly be deceived if you look only to the outward appearance of others. You will often be disappointed if you seek comfort and gain in them. If, however, you seek Jesus in all things, you will surely find Him.
In the same way, if you seek yourself, you will find yourself – to your own ruin. For those who do not seek Jesus do themselves much greater harm than the whole world and all their enemies could ever do them.

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