Although I grew up in a Christian home, I was not always a committed Christian. I mean, I attended church, I observed all my religious duties-I even learned to recite my prayers regularly. As a family we prayed together. Then, in my mid teens, I observed my family members each come into a personal and intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ. They changed quite a bit. They experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in a deep way. Our family tradition of rote prayers morphed into corporate praise and worship, and personal prayers that flowed from the reality of an intimate relationship with the LORD. Suddenly everything changed. They were passionate about GOD! They found joy, peace, purpose and love in their 'new found' faith. I didn't understand it at all! I was frustrated and...to be honest, a little disgusted with them. Until it happened to me...at the ripe age of 23.
I had friends, a great job, an education, but something was missing. As I began to read the Bible, Jesus' words challenged me. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain,” John 12:24. I struggled with the reality that I wanted to be the master of my own ship. I wanted GOD to be a compartment in my life-but not the focus of my whole life! Then, as the darkness started closing in on me, I realized that everything I put my faith in was transitory. I began to experience death in my extended family. I arrived at a crossroads. Who or what was I going to live for? “37 Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment,'” Matthew 22:37-38. I made a life changing decision then. I surrendered my life fully to GOD-choosing to live for Him instead of living for myself. I invited Jesus Christ to be LORD over my heart. That was the day I fell in love! It was passionate and magical!!! All I wanted to do was spend my time in His presence, listen to worship music, read the Bible, fellowship with other like-minded believers. He was the first thing I thought about in the morning and the last thing at the end of the day. I no longer enjoyed the things I used to, and wanted to please Him in every way. I couldn't stop talking about Him or thinking about His great love.
Fast forward to almost 20 years later. I am still committed to Him. Yet, the Holy Spirit has had to gently bring Revelation 2:1-7 to the forefront of my heart quite a few times:
“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.' '7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’
Join us next week for Part II.
No comments:
Post a Comment