Via TJC
…those who diligently seek Me will find Me. ~Proverbs 8:17
Maintain a living communion with Me. ~John 15:4
Magi from the East arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” ~Matthew 2:1-2
For many of us raised in the Western church, the need for diligence and maintenance in our relationship with Jesus seems foreign. At least it was for me. My earliest memories are of attending Lutheran churches and Sunday School. I sat through many sermons and saw the statue of Jesus behind the altar at least once a week.So, as a young man, when confronted with the question, “What has the Lord shown you today?” I naturally froze. The challenge was daunting. The questioner had unintentionally exposed my lack of a relationship with Jesus. While I mumbled through the conversation, the lack of depth in my relationship with the Lord ate at me for weeks. He was THE Lord but was not MY Lord. Shoot, even the demons recognize He is Lord! Recognition is not special. I did not ‘experientially know’ Him. A new friend visited me during my search. Late at night, he asked to lay hands on me to receive the Holy Spirit. Fear gripped me! Was I willing to enter into a relationship that was deep and close to the Lord? I said ‘Yes’ and He did.Initially, I thought this reception put the Lord on Autopilot in my life. Life would be a smooth roller coaster ride, arms up in the air and no steering wheel. I was mistaken. As my walk proceeded, I discovered divine tensions. There were some tasks the Spirit would ask of me with which I disagreed. This new life in Christ required unanticipated diligence and maintenance. Retaining the Lord as my Pilot required my consistent determination. If I wanted to be wise, I had to get on my donkey and seek after Him daily.
Daily Battle OrderThere is no Autopilot for God's imagers. There are diligent choices for maintaining and abiding with Jesus. Our natural nature is only to do enough to get by. Let us be intentional in running after Him. He wants to be found.
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