Into the Fire

Periodically, there is a message which rings so true, it cannot be ignored. You know the minute you read it, hear it, see it in some form or another that it’s for you. It’s like the finger of God has singled you out and pointed it at you. Not accusingly but definitely for emphasis. Like a loving human father who gives instructions, directions or wisdom—who knows instinctively when you’re not giving your best effort at something important to you and to him—he literally points it out to you by pointing at you, explaining how this cheap and less than honest effort just doesn’t cut it. And is this really how you want to do something so vital and necessary to your completeness and maturity as a man or a woman?

You shrink in size as you realize you’ve been discovered: your inertia exposed, your less-than-enthusiastic, slipshod method as ineffective as a broken and distorted beacon in muddy waters signaling nothing.

Here’s the deal. I really believe the Lord is saying to us, to you, to not hold back. From Him. Since He can see these areas we’re concealing from everyone but Him, He’s calling us out to bring them to Him, to get rid of them, to stop attempting to hide them because they are hindering us, you, from drawing nearer to Him.

When you read this, you will cringe. You will want to look behind you or over your shoulder, feeling the eyes of the Lord as if He’s hovering right there—because He is. Only He’s not berating you. He’s simply telling you there is so much more available between you and Him. Is this all you want? Is this enough? How could it be? He has endless depths, mysteries and discoveries to last a lifetime and more to come in eternity. How can you be satisfied? Status quo is never enough for the Lord.

Some of you have grown up in the church. You didn’t blaze a trail of obvious sin before you gave your heart to the Lord. Maybe you strayed once or twice or maybe you went off the deep end of the pool of sin. Maybe you’re still out there swimming in the sewage of sinfulness, and you’ve forgotten that love is the motivation of redemption—to SAVE you from sin. Regardless of where your walk has taken you, there is more to be gained from God.

Jesus gave it all. He didn’t hold back from us. He took the punishment. It was ugly. He knew it would be. He had His moment in the garden where the dread alone caused Him intense suffering. In the mustering of His heavenly courage, He declared, “Your will not mine be done.” He gave it all. He set the example. He paid the price. We’re His reward.

When we consider ourselves, we can’t help but wonder if it was worth it. Such a horrendous death. Yes, He was resurrected, but it doesn’t diminish the horror of it all. And it doesn’t even compute what it must’ve felt like for this holy Son of God to take sin upon Himself, having never, ever experienced the depravity of all kinds of it. I mean, we can be so selfish, so wicked, so cowardly, so wretched sometimes. And I’m talking about us Christians.

So, you’ll know if this word applies to you . . . if He gave it all for you, why would you hold back from Him?

Father, we need you to help us be free in you. Help us to recognize the deceptions we face, to seek after you to rid ourselves of them. Let us lay it all down at the Cross and leave the hidden things there at your feet. Heal us, inspire us, free us from our self-centered focus. Increase our devotion and our faithfulness. I ask it in the Name of Jesus, Amen.