Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
— John 10:10 (NRSV)
Having an intensely intimate
relationship with Jesus, I find difficult within my life, if I’m not
intentional about making time or taking the time to distance myself from the
trappings of the world. As soon as I commit myself to listening to my heart’s
desire—to connect with God, besides the world’s politics, people’s scheming,
and work and familial conflict—I find Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, enters my
understanding, again.
Oh what a wonderful Saviour we
have; that he comes to us when we seek him!
That he is there at all times for
us is the miracle of access—yet, we are the ones who may push him aside by the
intent of our living in choosing the world.
Time with Jesus or
Worldliness?
It’s good to clarify what I mean
by worldliness. It’s a worldview where comparatively petty concerns weigh us
down; where we allow them to. The corrective, of course, is time with
Jesus—which is nothing, really, about communing with God in some sort of
spiritualised meditation.
Time with Jesus is truly about
appreciating the enormous splendour in nonmaterial things. It’s taking the time
to enjoy the wonders of creation, the beauties in people, the majesty in a
world spinning by its own processes, and appreciating just how big the universe
and life is. When life is a prayer we enjoy time with Jesus. Jesus teaches us
much, to a point where there is no limit, when we open our eyes and ears and
hearts and minds. And when we do open these faculties of sense, the problems of
the world wither away in silence and irrelevance.
Time with Jesus will sort just
about every common and uncommon concern we might have. When we have practised,
and continue to practice, this awesome gift—the continual investment of
thought-purpose in God—we are gifted in so many means of salvation that our
concept of salvation grows, and the idea of abundance overflows.
Worldliness is the constant trap
which beckons us away from the Lord.
As soon as we are ensconced to
conflict with others, to needing our own way, to building our nest egg without
thought for others, we have found ourselves—again—back in the world, useless
for the glory of God.
But time with Jesus will
capitalise us for God’s Kingdom.
***
Time with Jesus is truly about
appreciating the enormous splendour in nonmaterial things. It’s taking the time
to enjoy the wonders of creation, the beauties in people, the majesty in a
world spinning by its own processes, and appreciating just how big the universe
and life is. When life is a prayer we enjoy time with Jesus.
© 2012 S. J. Wickham.
No comments:
Post a Comment