Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests
and Levites –
everyone whose heart God had moved – prepared to go up and build
the
house of the Lord in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:5
I returned home from a week away and Maggie would not leave
me alone. She climbed onto the couch next to me and laid her head in my lap
where she pushed and prodded at my hand with her nose until I would agree to
pet her. My husband said, “She’s our noser alright”!
Although she was particularly persistent since I had been
gone, it is actually a regular occurance at our house to have Maggie “nosing”
us, demanding the attention and affection she desires we give. Of course we can
chose to ignore her or push her away, busy with a different focus, or perhaps
just not in the mood, but then we miss out on the good stuff, the reward of a closeness
and joyous companionship that she is always so generously waiting to draw us to.
It is like this with our relationship with the Lord. He
nudges, prods, pokes, or “noses” us with the truth of His word in order that
our hearts will be moved. He speaks in order to get us moving, to protect us
from stagnation and receiving less than he desires that we partake of, and to
keep us progressing toward the life we have been called to in Christ. It is tempting
to ignore, deny or rebel against the prodding. Often the poke is inconvenient.
Frequently the nudging is annoying. Usually it is stressful. Occasionally it is
overwhelming. Sometimes it is frightening, and even traumatic. Almost always it
requires setting aside our own agendas, attitudes, ideas or desires. Sometimes we
are simply lazy, while other times we have seemingly legitimate objections. But
deep down it is clear that we are resistant to giving up our easy, comfortable
and controlled lives and when truth breaks in we are tempted to dig in our
heels and say no to the demand, to the advancement of our faith.
Yet we are called to give up all that is our own in favor of
something much better. This better is to “go up”, to grow up, to live in His
glorious presence, and to participate in increasing measure with the divine
nature that lives in us as believers, and thereby take part in the building of the
Kingdom of God here and now.
No matter the distance or the difficulty in where we are
called to move in our minds and hearts, we can be assured that we will never be
left alone to do so. For God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to live fully as
a man, to die on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, so that He
might live today, and forevermore, at the right hand of the Father in
intercession for us as God’s chosen people. He is there, right now, helping us
to make our moves, clearing the way, and bringing us along, closer to Himself, and to the good works that He has prepared in advance for us
to do.
It is hard work to move a heart. Gratefully, it is God’s
work to move a heart!
To Christ be the glory, forever and ever. Amen!
-Jeanne
May we not be distracted, lulled or tempted to dismiss or
take a detour from the nudges and nosing that He graciously provides to keep us
on the narrow path of life so that we may lay claim to His great Kingdom
building purposes.
-Jeanne
