As the days wind and point towards Easter,
I am spending time reading the Gospels.
Looking for Jesus in ways that I may never have
seen Him.
I am putting myself in the text and seeing who I look like.
Already it has been a humbling journey.
Could I be like Joseph, setting aside appearances to submit
and obey?
I see Herod in me.
I can be extreme.
I can let emotion trump reason.
I can desire attention for myself.
I watched Peter, Andrew, James and John this morning.
I thought about how they abandoned what they were doing,
the fishing, the mending and family ties
to follow Jesus.
They left their livelihood, identity and
attachments to quickly follow.
Do I remember the day that I stopped my fixing and
pursuing,
dropping everything to follow?
Does my following have the same intensity today?
Have I allowed other attachments and affections to
slow down my race to be with Him?
Jesus says,
Come to Me.
The men from the East took a detour after they had been beckoned
to come.
The path changes when we come face to face with Jesus.
Herod could have chosen reverence over rivalry
and been set free from a prison of jealousy,
but he refused.
He chose widespread death over abundant life.
Today I can come in spite of all the different natures
that reside in me.
I refuse to look to the left or the right.
I make it my aim to keep my eyes firmly fixed on
Him and to follow
quickly
and
always.
May your every gaze at Jesus deepen your love
and desire to follow close.
I enjoyed looking over this list of Lenten ideas.
Take a look.
I loved your statement, “The path changes when we come face to face with Jesus.” There is much wisdom here in this post to meditate on. Thanks for the link to some great ideas for Lent.
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