Who Are You Listening To?

As I sat pondering our passage from the sermon in 1 Peter this week, it took me back a few years. For whatever reason, I began listening to a political talk show and it hooked me. I didn’t want to admit it, but it did. I became fearful about the security and future of our nation and world. This program promised me principles that could provide comfort and hope of security. The security not promised by a sovereign God, but found in a political agenda and government leaders. This program became my salvation, in a sense, and I became a disciple whose heart was hoping in its promises.

I also became increasingly more anxious, and sadly, more suspicious of people who did not fit the “gospel” being preached by this program. So, while I truly believed in Jesus, functionally I was putting my trust in politics for my security and joy.

But praise be to God, he is faithful and patient. He is steadfast in his pursuit of our hearts and he desires abundance for our lives. He used our STEPS ministry to help recover this area of my heart. As I was mentoring a brother through this ministry, we started talking about the underlying desires of our hearts (finding comfort outside of Jesus). What were we seeking that was keeping us from the life-giving, sufficient comfort of Christ while we run to counterfeits.

A light was shown on my heart. God opened my eyes to see that rest for my soul was not found in any voice in our culture, but in the person of Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:28-30). He helped me to confess that I had been hoping in lesser things. He led me to repent from running to those voices and to renew my desire to run to him. As I did, he replaced my fears with his peace. He reminded me that salvation is not a promise of perceived ways or securities in this world or the absence of perceived hardships in this life, but rather the promise that God, the Father, is with us in all that happens.

Our God is great. He is the one who created in to being what did not formerly exist by the word of his mouth. When I come to HIM, I remember this and recall the promises that he has given me as his child and citizen of his kingdom now and forever. THAT is rest and it is available the moment we tune into HIS program. As we do, we will be fruitful partners in loving the world around us and will indeed experience joy and abundance that he has promised as we trust him fully.

I pray that you will examine your heart with the help of our loving God who gently calls you to himself. He promises to give you a life full of flourishing as you trust him fully.