Person, place or thing?

For My name shall be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts (Mal. 1:11).

Life is filled with an overflowing amount of information to process and categorize. Out of survival and confusion we often discard what is good with the bad. This uncertainty can elevate things into places in our lives that don’t belong there. The obvious is lost in misunderstanding, simplicity is masked by the ensuing anxiety and that which is needed most is destroyed in pursuit of that which is unnecessary.

Things often fill gaps in our lives with the wrong ideas and expectations. Along this line of logic little worlds are built within us with no room for anyone, much less the God of the universe. What we deem as bettering becomes worsening and Satan is very good at conditioning us into what we are not to become and holding onto that which was never meant to be.

If we are not careful, we confine our living into specific places while looking for that thing that will satisfy and solve all issues. The Apostle Nathanael got caught at this when he missed the Messiah by looking at the place, Nazareth.

And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see” (John 1:46).

Don’t get caught in seeing your Savior in a place or categorize Him as an unnecessary thing. He is the living God who has no boundaries and possesses limitless mercy, grace and love. Our identity lies in the living God, not a thing or restricted to a place. “Come and see” as John tells us and you will come to realize that your best efforts fall far short of the Person who will satisfy.

“Every high civilization decays by forgetting obvious things.” – G.K. Chesterton

Pastor Dave Jagemann, Chapel of Faith