The Plumbline

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. (Psalm 73:25-26) I am going to ask a tough question this morning. What do you desire most on this earth? Answer honestly, because anything short of true honesty is just foolishness. The more 'religious' of us would immediately answer, "Why, God of course", but we might not be living in a manner that shows that dedication and desire. The more 'honest' of us would reluctantly admit it should be God, but things and people get in the way of that dedication at times.  Desire goes a long, long way in determining our actions, doesn't it? If we desire something sweet, even if we are on a diet, we will go all out to find a recipe that will allow the 'sweet tooth' to be satisfied, don't we? The craving or desire demands satisfaction. If our craving or desire is for earthly...

Sometimes people tell me they don't know how God 'works', or what he 'expects' them to do. They are really trying to tell me they are having a hard time discerning God's will for their lives. The truth of the matter is that all of us struggle with this from time to time, but we don't have to look very far to find answers to our questions. Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. (Ephesians 5:1-2) Watch what God does - first in your own life, then in the lives of others who have chosen to follow him. Why? God knows we learn best by example. We see, do, then teach. This is the natural cycle. As we become familiar with what he does in our lives, w...