01/22/2009
Psalms 43:3 - 4 (HCSB)
3 Send
Your light and Your truth; let them lead me.
Let them bring me to Your holy mountain,
to Your dwelling place.
4 Then
I will come to the altar of God,
to God, my greatest joy.
I will praise You with the lyre,
God, my God.
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Have you ever had a friend who expected you to participate in all their activities, but they would rarely join in yours? They are the kind of people who are most concerned with their own interests. While they enjoy your company, your concerns are a low priority for them. So you find yourself feeling somewhat unappreciated.
By contrast, can you imagine a friend who always inquired about your interests and went out of their way to help you pursue those interests? Have you ever had a friend so devoted that their own interests were of less concern than yours?
Yet, how many of us lead our lives expecting God to follow us around. Sure, we want him in our lives. We want God to be with us and to comfort us as we go about our daily duties, but are we like that first friend who rarely considers the desires of their companion?
Now, of course, we know that God is everywhere at once, but the idea here is one of posture and priority.
We get so busy with our own concerns that we treat God like a trusted co-pilot, rather than almighty God. He is there if we need him, but rarely do we consult with him earnestly to determine our paths and courses of action.
I believe it is important for us to break that cycle and seek God where he is. We need to pursue his causes and concerns. We need to listen to what he has to say and respond to his words. We need to set our concerns aside and seek to know his desires.
Do you see the difference? God and his objectives should be our priority and our own concerns only secondary. Can you be that second friend to God and place his interests above your own?
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
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