You were created for an intimate relatinoship with God.
Jesus came to make that possilble.
Sometimes I find myself get distracted, caught up with other things
- even the work for God can distract me from my relationship with him.
At other times, I am absolutely desperate for God's presense, his mercy and grace.
When we find ourselves in this place of desperation, nothing but the presence of God will satisfy.
Psalm 139:17-24
Desperate for God's thoughts
It is an amazing blessing to be able to wake up each morning and
know that God is with you and that he wants to speak to you:
'Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!" (v.18)
This is why I love to read the Bible first in the morning.
I am desperate to know God's thoughts.
David is also desperate not to offend God:
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (v. 23-24)
Let God search our hearts, as we can deceive ourselves.
I have many anxious thoughts but God knows them all.
I need to hand them over, let go and allow him to guid me.
'Lord, I am desperate to know your thoughts and to hear your voice.
Lead me into your presence, I pray.
Draw me close to you.'
Jude 1:1-25
Desperate for God's truth
Approaching toward the last age, the bible warns us of false teaching which deceives people and leads them astray.
Jude is desperate for his readers to hold onto God's truth and not to be led astray by false teaching.
Jude encourages his readers to stick to the teaching they were originally given, and to 'contend for the faith' (v.3)
The truth really matters.
You have been entrusted with it (v.3)
You must contend for the truth - against false teachers and false teaching.
God's people are encouraged to be desperate for God's truth.
The beginning and the end of the letter speak of an intimacy with God and how to live as those desperate for God's truth.
There is no higher calling or a more liberating job than to see every day as an opportunity to serve Jesus Christ.
Jude ends by urging us to
- Study the truth: 'Build yourselves up in your most holy faith' (v.20)
- Pray: 'Pray in the holy spirit (v.20). The holy spirit will guide you into the truth
- Stay close to God: 'Keep yourselves in God's love' (v.21)
- Be merciful: 'Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin' (v.23)
'Lord, help me to be desperate to hold onto your truth and to contend for the faith.'
Zechariah 5:1-8:23
Desperate for God's justice and God's blessing
Zechariah warns of God's judgment and the need for God's justice (chapter 5).
You experience my blessings now through your connection to Christ, but some blessings you will only experience in full measure in the future, in the new heaven and the new earth.
However, right now we are to work to bring this blessing into being:
'O Judah and Israel, so will I save you, and you will be a blessing.
Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong' (v.13).
God is concerned for truth and peace.
'These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgments in your courts;
do not plot evil against your neighbour, and do not love to swear falsely...
Therefore love truth and peace' (v.16-19).
Above all, God is concerned that as many people as possible experience the blessing of his presence.
You are to be a blessing to those around you who do not yet know God through Christ, and a pointer to God through your actions and words. When others see the difference that God makes, they will be drawn to him.
When you are desperate to be a channel of God's love, justice, and blessing, then others will come to know God's presence.
'Lord, we are desperate for you.
Please fill your church with your presence.
Help us to be a place that ministers to the poor and needy, and a place of truth and peace, where people bring their friends and family because they have heard that God is with you.
