Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites knew they wanted to worship something. God had given them rules for worship but then allowed them to choose who and how they would worship. They wanted to be like their neighbors and worship many gods. They made their choice and would bear the consequences. God wouldn’t heed competition. He allowed them to be taken captive, to help them learn a lesson. Captivity isn’t fun. Physical captivity limits what you can do. The Israelites learned they hated physical captivity. Spiritual captivity limits what truth you can understand. The Israelites learned this lesson eventually.
God doesn’t want us in any kind of captivity, but He will let us experience the consequences of our choices to help us learn.
God wanted them, and you and me, to realize yes, we are made to worship.
But God says we are to worship only Him.
We have things that captivate our hearts. We may not bow down before them, but are our thoughts always on them? Do we do whatever we can possibly think of to satisfy them? Do we understand we might be held in spiritual captivity?
God authored a way out. And when we find that exit, oh, the joy that awaits us. “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.” Isaiah 55:12 (NIV)
Just as the Israelites were physically and then spiritually freed, we too can experience that same joy when we finally realize we want to live for, serve only, Abba Father God. That He is indeed a loving, compassionate Lord, who truly only wants the very best for His children.
He asks for obedience but patiently awaits our slow learning curve. He wants our whole hearts. Mine. Yours. He doesn’t want to share. He wants to be the one and only.
He slowly woos us, working all things for good. He shows us He is dependable. He is indeed loving and compassionate. We learn we can trust Him.
And when we finally release our grasp on those other shiny, blingy, distractions; our hearts rejoice.
Creation itself celebrates with us.
God joyfully exclaims over us.
We are united with Him just as He authored when He created us.
That doesn’t mean life gets easy. But it’s suddenly easier to know where to turn for help, isn’t it?
He promises we will be joy-filled and we will be led in peace. Led in peace, because He’s doing the leading. And for once and for all our hearts are right with ourselves because they are solely set on Him.
Not a thousand different things that change with the wind.
Maybe you, like me, need that reminder from time to time. This world is bright and loud and glittering, desperately vying not only for attention, but a place in our hearts. How can we possibly avoid these deceptors?
The answer, I found, lies in what turned my heart back to Him. Get to know Him. Stay in the know of Him. Grow old learning more and more about Him. Pursue Him, not anyone or anything else.
But it can be quite challenging, no? We need to encourage each other and help each other along the way.
We need to stay focused on Him and ask for His help. He will deliver. Let’s ask Him for just that.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I am sorry I get distracted. I want You. I want to be led by You. I want to know Your joy, Your peace. Forgive my unfaithful heart. Guide me, grow me, and gift me understanding and wisdom as I focus on pursuing You whole-heartedly. Thank You Lord for Your patience and Your gifts of help. In Jesus’ name, Amen.