Long ago a lovely young couple met in Paris. It was undeniably love-at-first-sight. Flowers, dancing at the base of the Eiffel Tower, conversations over coffee lingering into the wee hours of the morning… Their love was the thing of novels.
But as their time together unavoidably dwindled reality dawned upon both of them. The emotions were overwhelming. The departure felt as though each had left a piece of themselves with the other.
After returning home to their respective countries the young man wrote her quite frequently. In his letters, he recounted, with great fondness, their unforgettable time in Paris.
The young woman was smitten. She would spend her days reading his letters over and over again. With great anticipation, she checked the mailbox daily in hopes of yet another letter. She swooned when one came. She opened each with care and anticipation. The ritual of expecting, waiting, finding, opening, and reading the letters became her life’s obsession and greatest joy.
The young man wrote to her frequently about his plans to be reunited and to marry her. He provided the date, the location, and extensive details. Knowing her financial situation, he regularly enclosed checks to ensure every possible obstacle was accounted for and eliminated.
The time for their wedding arrived. The young man was elated as he set off for the destination, but when he arrived… the bride-to-be was nowhere to be found. The young woman was busy expecting, waiting, finding, opening, and reading the love letters. The date of their wedding came... and went. The young man was devastated. The young woman… oblivious.
She exchanged the reality of a real relationship for a fantasy. He wanted her. She was content with his letters and the idea of love.
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It might sound crazy, but this is the very approach many Christians today take regarding their relationship with our Bridegroom, Christ Jesus.
Rather than actually acting upon God’s commands to us and for us, many are content to merely read about it.
Rather than meeting God where He calls us to go, many are content to merely read about it.
Rather than being the church and doing the things He’s prepared for us to do, many are content to merely read about it.
Rather than serving as His witnesses to the ends of the earth, many are content to merely read about it.
Rather than abiding in Him to produce much fruit, many are content to merely read about it.
Rather than making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace, many are content to merely read about it.
Rather than bringing about the obedience of faith among all the nations for His Name’s sake, many are content to merely read about it.
Our Bridegroom, King Jesus, has given us the instructions. He's set the date. He's paid the ultimate price. He's taken care of all the details. He's eliminated every obstacle. Now, He's only waiting for our acceptance of the wedding invitation with our life's response - today! He doesn't want us to be content with His love letter. He sent the letter to point us to Him! His desire is for us to be consumed with Him.
Many Christians today are perfectly content with the love letter (the Bible) rather than its Author. Many are perfectly satisfied with their private quiet times, their small groups, their Bible studies, and their favorite church’s Sunday services, programs, and social activities. Many are content with some synthetic conception of Christian traditions rather than actually being His Bride… rather than being with Christ… rather than functioning as members of His Body as members of the church... rather than simple, literal obedience.
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The young man made every effort to demonstrate his love, devotion, and desire to be with her forever. The young woman missed the wedding because she was fixated, obsessed, and more in love with the idea of being in love than with him. She was busy with expecting, waiting, finding, opening, and reading. She was consumed with the letters, not the author.
“You have disregarded the command of God in order to hold fast to your traditions.”
-Mark 7:8
If our love for Christ doesn’t translate into simple, literal obedience… if it doesn’t translate into regularly, faithfully showing up to humbly serve in building up His Body… if it doesn’t translate into being a faithful witness to the ends of the earth - beginning in our own backyard… if we have no sense of urgency, no discernable accountability, and no definable kingdom role day-in and day-out… then chances are good we’re more in love with our ideas, concepts, and traditions of Christianity than with Christ.
What about you? Do you love the Divine Author or just His letter?
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings only death.”
-2 Corinthians 7:10
Blessings,
-PK
https://www.unstoppablekidsbook.com/
