Last Sunday, we asked, "Can Jesus save someone at the end of their life?" Thank God, He can. But why spend your life without the One you hope to spend eternity with? Thank God we can escape hell. But while I am here on earth, can I know Him? Can I walk with Him? Can I experience the joy of being with my Father?
I do not want to spend my whole life familiar with church and unfamiliar with the Father. I want to know Him. I want to love Him. I want His presence to shape the person I am when nobody else is looking. The greatest gift of salvation is God Himself.
"You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever." — Psalm 16:11 | NLT
Do I merely want what God can do for me, or do I want God Himself?
Jesus Came to Bring Us to the Father
When Adam and Eve sinned, they hid from God. Sin brought shame into a relationship that had been free of it. Instead of enjoying His presence, they were afraid. We still do that. We fail, feel ashamed, and withdraw.
But the gospel is the announcement that God has made a way for sinners to come home. Why did He suffer? To bring you to God. Jesus took our sin, died in our place, and rose again so we could be forgiven and reconciled to the Father.
"Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God." — 1 Peter 3:18 | NLT
The Things We Chase Cannot Replace Him
You were made for God. Enjoy His gifts, but do not ask them to take His place.
We tell ourselves, "When I have more money, when people appreciate me, when this problem is gone, then I will have peace." Yet the finish line keeps moving. We get what we wanted, enjoy it briefly, and start reaching for something else.
"For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me, the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!" — Jeremiah 2:13 | NLT
Nothing Jesus asks you to surrender is more valuable than Jesus Himself.
His Presence Gives Joy and Strength in Real Life
In John 15, Jesus calls Himself the vine and us the branches. A branch does not produce life by trying to look alive. Its fruit comes from its connection to the vine.
There is joy in knowing you are loved. There is peace in bringing Him what you cannot control. There is courage in knowing you are not abandoned. His faithfulness does not depend on the strength of your feelings.
You can walk through the valley and still walk with God. His presence changes more than a church service. He changes us.
"I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!" — John 15:11 | NLT
Holiness Is Our Response to His Love
We cannot ask Jesus to come closer while telling Him which parts of our lives are off limits. God is not a consultant whose advice I consider while I remain in charge. Jesus is Lord.
He has authority over my money, my relationships, my private habits, and my words. And I can trust His authority because I have seen His love at the cross.
"Come close to God, and God will come close to you." — James 4:8 | NLT
Coming close means turning from sin. Holiness does not purchase God's love. His love changes us. Love changes the question from "What can I get away with?" to "What honors the One I love?"
Make Room to Know Him
Start with honest prayer: "Lord, my heart has grown cold. Help me want You again." Open His Word. Listen to what He says. Give Him time to address more than your list of needs.
Martha was distracted with serving while Mary sat at Jesus' feet and listened. Martha's service mattered, but distraction was costing her time with Him. It is possible to be busy doing things for Jesus while neglecting time with Jesus.
So make a real appointment with Him this week. Put the phone away. Open your Bible. Pray before you rush into the day. Bring Him into your decisions, not just your emergencies.
Obey what you already understand. Make the apology. Ask for help. Stop postponing the step He has already shown you. The altar can be a beginning, but abiding is how we live after we leave it.
More Than Anything I Want You
"If you don't personally go with us, don't make us leave this place." — Exodus 33:15 | NLT
"Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me." — Psalm 51:11 | NLT
"I want to know Christ." — Philippians 3:10 | NLT
Different men, different circumstances, but the same hunger: "God, more than anything You can give me, I want You."
Moses was facing the road ahead. David was repenting of terrible sin. Paul was pressing on to know Christ more deeply. One needed guidance. One needed mercy. One longed for deeper fellowship. And all three turned toward God Himself.
Lord, I want to provide for my family. I want help with my problems. But do not let me become so occupied with what I need from You that I stop wanting You. I do not want to preach about Someone I am too busy to seek. I want Him to govern my life because I trust Him. I want to know the Father, walk with Jesus, and be led by the Holy Spirit.
Come to God and Truly Know Him
If you have never surrendered to Jesus, come to Him today. He died for your sins and rose again. Turn from your sin and place your trust in Him. You cannot save yourself, but you can receive the Savior who is calling you.
If you have been living on the memory of a relationship you are no longer cultivating, come back. You do not have to pretend that everything is right. Bring Him the truth. If you are hungry for more, come and seek Him. Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit and show you the next step of obedience.
Come because Jesus is worthy of your life, not because you have made yourself worthy of Him.
Come out of hidden sin. Come out of prayerlessness. Come out of merely knowing about Him. Come know Him.
Come surrender to Him. Come be filled with His Spirit. If you are lost, come home to the Father. If you have grown cold, return to Him. If something is competing for His place in your life, lay it down.
The Savior who died for you is worthy of your trust. The Father is inviting you near.
"God, more than anything You can give me, I want You." Let that be our answer today. Come to Jesus.
Prayer
Father, we come through Jesus. Forgive our sin and our resistance to You. We believe Jesus died for us and rose again. We place our trust in Him and surrender our lives to His lordship. Holy Spirit, fill us. Teach us to love what is holy and turn from what grieves You. Restore our hunger for prayer and Your Word. Give us courage to obey and power to be witnesses for Jesus. We want to know You and represent You faithfully. In Jesus' name, amen.
Read the sermon notes for "The Gift Is God Himself."
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.