Perspective: the art of drawing solid objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other when viewed from a particular point; particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view; true understanding of the relative importance of things; a sense of proportion.

I named this blog Perspectives, because I think it might just be what God is growing in me. Slowly but surely, giving me a correct understanding of myself, and by His sweet grace, shifting my perspective away from the slavery of self onto the beauty of Jesus. I hope to have a “true understanding of the relative importance of things”—a right perspective...to find that place of freedom. These posts will hopefully all point back to gaining a truer and better perspective.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Consume this consumer's heart

Materialism becomes and all consuming fire…but not like God. The type of fire that leaves burns and nothing to show for itself and ashes that remind me only of the hurt and the waste. I don’t want a heart in ashes. I don’t want a soul cracked and scorched.

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and this let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29)

This consumer’s heart needs consuming. Desperately. I get so rutted here! So wanting and envious and tricked into thinking I “need” something. What the heck could I possibly “need”? I need my heart consumed by God and hell wants to consume it with the flames of want and confused “needs.” There is a kingdom that cannot be shaken! Why am I still shaking my wallet for loose change and shaking my head as a judge people left and right and shaking my soul as I feast on worthless idols that don’t satisfy? They don’t talk back. They crumble. They become ashes and dust. From dust to dust. Just like me.

THERE IS SOMETHING BETTER.

A kingdom that cannot be shaken! I shake, but He who holds me has a tight grip and won’t let go no matter how much I tremble. When I think and I get anxious and care so much about the thoughts of others…shaky as my faith may be…HE CANNOT BE SHAKEN.

“THEREFORE”… there is a response. There is something I am shown in this passage that elicits a response.  I am to do something because of it. This truth is meant to change me. I am to offer acceptable worship. What does it mean to offer acceptable worship to the Almighty who has already accepted me in Christ? Perhaps it’s just that…to be consumed by just how loved and accepted I am in Christ. Loved and accepted...for WHO I AM! For WHO CHRIST IS! FOR WHO GOD HAS PROCLAIMED ME TO BE IN CHRIST. I am mud God chose to give life to and grow up and teach and give a particular shape to and a personality in order for Him to say, “Yes! Just as I had planned her. My sweet daughter and design. My Kate.”

Why do I look around at the other pots? God made me and dried this particular pot just as He saw fit, in His all-consuming fire. Consume me with the truth of this fire!

I desperately need the reverence and awe that accompanies this truth. Reverence to God and awe of who He is. To allow my heart to be so consumed I stop focusing so much on being a consumer. To stop consuming things and money and relationships and calories and time and to allow myself to BE CONSUMED…by love and grace and beauty and what matters!

I was made and designed by God.
I am loved and chosen by God.
I can be still and know that He is God.
My days are numbered by God.
My hairs are numbered by God.
Each nerve in my body is known by God.
No synapse in my brain happens apart from God.
The list goes on and on and on…

I have got to take time to look up before I consume myself with everything  and everyone around me. To ask God what He thinks of me before I even dare to ask what I think of myself. TO BE CONSUMED. Not like a fire that demolishes a house, but rather like silver consumed in flames. Not destroyed, but purified and renewed. Made brighter, reflecting more Light. 




Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote, “God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6 MSG)


Amen. 

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