All of us need a moment when we can honestly declare as Amos did: "But the Lord took me...." To "be taken" in this way is too experience a kind of spiritual transaction that calibrates us to the heart of God. When this occurs the following paradigm shifts can not be stopped:
1. Prayer becomes more about opportunity than obligation.
2. Scripture becomes more about inspiration than indoctrination.
3. Obedience becomes more about natural response than forced requirement.
4. Witness becomes more about conversation than confrontation.
5. Giving becomes more about generosity than guilt.
6. Serving becomes more about Calling than coercion.
7. Worship becomes more about passion than performance.
You will be "taken" by something. The world and all its counterfeits are poised to deceive another heart. But will you hear the Call of God today? God whispers His intent into the hearts of all people. He wants to "take" you.
Rob
Rob, thank you for doing this blog. And especially for this post.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome. Hope you have a great week, Ansel.
ReplyDeleteRob
God has taken me. He has finally inclined my heart. But the taking has been more like when I "incline" my dog to the scale at the vets office. After he refuses to be guided onto the scale (it is inches high) I try to pick him up and he immediately hugs the ground. I try to pick him up from another angle and he holds out all his limbs in rigid protest. Once I place him, he knows he's placed. Knows that I am in control and he is not. And he doesn't resist.
ReplyDeleteMy rejections of God have not been as overt as this, but I don't think it matters whether the looking away or even walking away comes from subtle distraction or from actual obstinacy. If we don't see him and if we aren't looking at Him as our soul/sole master then something is off. We need taking. Sometimes re-taking. Need our hearts captured and rescued from camps we do not belong in.
I hate that I mention retaking. Like the one that deserves our hearts is not capable of holding our attention. He is but I am selfish and I looked away. Me of little faith looked away from the Lion that walks on the sea. But He sure did grab my arm. Laqecked me out of the water and now I'm looking at Him. Know I have been placed. That I am not in control and I don't want to be anymore.