John 3:16-17 -- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
This morning after talking with the Lord, I expected we'd end up in another verse about thanksgiving or gratefulness, but instead something occurred. I got distracted.
That's right, in the middle of my quiet time, I just flat out got distracted. It started with a random thought about my son's car and how he needed windshield wipers. Then my phone dinged with a message. Then I somehow ended up on Facebook, which I saw all the wonderful "Happy Thanksgiving" posts, so I went ahead and made one for Jesusccc.com and shared it on social media.
It's then a post from 11 hours prior somehow made it to the top of my social media feed about losing touch with people. It said something like, "I feel bad for not checking on people, then I realize their phone works, and nobody is checking on me." This really hit my heart and I knew I couldn't ignore it. Life so easily pulls us apart and the reasons are many and some are very real. So, the post had done its job and caught hold of me.
As I stopped and talked with the Lord over it, I was overwhelmed with love for the person posting, as it was someone I had not reached out to for quite some time. Then Romans 5:8 and 1 John 2:6 came loudly to my mind.
Romans 5:8 -- But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 2:6 -- He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
It hit me the theme of the post was about losing connection; however, it was worded, very eye for an eye, which creates a never-ending cycle of "you don't call so I won't call" and that humanly feels good. It gives worldly justification for not reaching out. However, that's not the heart of our Lord, nor how He does things, and I'm called to walk as He walked. He came for us while we were not just aloof, but while we were enemies to Him, openly rebelling against Him. He reached out to us. Jesus came and died for us while we were so very lost.
It all made me realize how easy it is for us to get caught up in our own little worlds, and just how much that can affect others. Like Clarence in 'It's a Wonderful Life' says, "Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?".
I responded to the person sharing my heart and how sorry I was for not reaching out. I had every intention of returning to my quiet time, but my social media feed refreshed and there sat a post from many hours prior from another person. It was calling out how difficult the holidays can be for many people. This hit me so hard and led me back to talking with the Lord in prayer.
For many of us holidays are full of food, family, and fun. Sure, there's some fat, fuss, and frustration that goes in the mix, but overall, it's a time of joy, reflection, and laughter. Then it clicks from the first post, how we can so easily get disconnected from others, when not being very intentional about reaching out… we too can get disconnected from the struggle, hurt, pain, anger, frustration, and loneliness of so many others, when we're not intentional about having our eyes open to it.
Sure, our lives are busy, we have our own issues, work, kids, etc.… but if we hide behind those it allows our circumstances to be in charge and we miss the opportunity to love, pray, be there, talk, listen, sit with, or acknowledge others. If I say I live in Christ Jesus and I'm going to fulfill that obligation to walk as He walked, how can I blindly stay wrapped up in my own selfish world? The answer is I can't. Luke 9:23 came quickly to me.
Luke 9:23 -- And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].
So, it was at this point the household came to life and began Thanksgiving Day cleaning and cooking. Which meant my already distracted and fractured "Quiet Time" was now being turned into "Cleaning Time". LOL... Oh boy what a morning it's been.
So, after a few hours I came back. Closed myself in the room. Turned on some good old Gospel music, The Cathedrals Quartet to be specific, and I just sat here praising the Lord and letting myself be in His presence. It was then I was brought to John 3:16-17. Just how much He loves us and the extent of that love. He loved us enough to show us we are sinners, that we cannot ever be good enough to meet His level of perfect holiness. That alone is such a powerful act of love, to simply show us. Then while we're in this state of sin and rebellion He demonstrated His love by sending Jesus for us. To pay the price of that sin… oh friend there is a way… The Way, the Truth, the Life, the Word, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Jesus Christ!
Okay, well this was an interesting Thanksgiving Day quiet time and recap.
I say this from my heart, you are loved. You are prayed over. You are not alone. I can say it because I love you, I pray for you, and am here any time. Through this website prayer request at the bottom, through my email: phil@jesusccc.com or through the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Jesuscccphil.
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