Run

I want to see Jesus. Every day, in every step.

"I desire nothing besides You.."

My heart lurches, stumbles, and falls. Everything within me cries, "Run!! Run away from this pain, this confusion, this doubt. Run and run and run till the wind dries your tears and the silence stills your fears. Run away from smiles that mock your tears. Run and drown, and make not a sound".

So I run. With all my heart I run, as far away as I can go. A voice calls and beckons me on. "Run!" it cries. "Run and run and run, straight into My arms. Run until My love dries your tears and My peace stills your fears. Run to My smiles that wipe away your tears. Run and drown, in the blood of the Lamb that made not a sound".

As I sob into His arms, I hear Him say, "Dear one, can you not see? It was my grace that made you run."

Startled, I realize. It was all a gift. "Father, that evil, you meant it for good?"
"Everything is good, my dear child, because it's from ME".

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was never meant for me. Who am I to judge the difference?
I feel like a child, humbled and confused. "God, which one is evil, and which is good?"

"All from My hand, that is what is good" He says with a smile.

So oftentimes I think that beauty is only in the end. I watch the flowers fade and die, thinking that beauty has ended. But in reality, it has just begun.

I watch my walking, tripping and falling and think "Oh for the day, when my walk is soon done. When I can look in His face, and know we have won".

But then I know I wouldn't trade it for a moment. For there is so much beauty in this process, this journey of mine.

I don't have enough. Not enough time or energy or strength or love. But I have Him, and He is enough.

I see Him in the garden, drops of blood running down His face. Crying to His Father, "I don't want to do this!" Knowing what it would mean. Yet in the midst of His cries, He died, "Not my will but Yours be done".

His will is so much better. So in awe I stand, in wonder at His love, overwhelmed by His grace. "His mercies are new every morning, great is His faithfulness"

SLAVE

You were called to this... utter and ultimate slavery. The day you accepted Christ as Lord, "you became slaves.." (Romans 6:18). The Master is waiting, calling you to obey. Instead you are bristling on the inside, defensively fighting against His commands. "What about freedom?" you cry.

The word slave brings up pictures of torture, humiliation, and despair. The very thought is revolting, especially to those who live in the land of the free. Why would we ever subjugate ourselves to such tyranny??

Yet the gospel bids us come, for only in slavery will we ever find freedom.

What a beautiful picture the gospel of Jesus Christ paints! We were once in darkness, shackled to the chains of our own desires. There was no freedom - only a submission to the powers of darkness that reigned over our souls. Headlong we plunged; the grave our only end.

But our Maker saved us! Thrust upon a cross, with blood running down His back, his cry rang in victory over the powers of darkness, "Tetelestai!" It is finished. He came to set the captives free, and rose to lead them home to victory.

Because the slaves of Christ will one day reign as kings.

The gospel of Christ is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us it is the POWER of God.

What if Christ had set us free to our own whims and desires the day we surrended our wills to His? Slaves do not know how to live as freeman. We have no strength, no ability to live on our own. If He did not lead and guide us, how would we know the way?

Sanctification is the redemption of slaves, every single day. He has not left us to figure it out on our own. Instead, He humbles us and guides us, teaching us what it means to live free.

True freedom is the way of righteousness.

Sin battles against us, trying to claim His place in our lives. But our God is a jealous God! He will not let us succumb to the desires that will enslave us; No, He disciplines us until we finally understand... there is no freedom without Christ.

Therefore, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness... and all these things shall be added until you".

And that is why Paul boldly proclaimed himself as.. "Paul, a SLAVE of Christ"
He got it.
Do you?