Sept 26th | Tension
We live in a tension. It is impossible to alleviate ourselves from the gods we trust, the idols we turn to for security, affirmation, belonging, etc. if we could, our broken and depraved hearts would simply create more. Gods/idols will always threaten to take our allegiance, they will always whisper for our attention. We have a double-edged problem. 1) we must disrupt, dissolve, break the bonds to other gods/idols, and 2) we must strengthen the bond with God.
To break the god-bonds we must give up and away. Give up things we’re attached to or give them away. Not only does the exercise of “fasting” begin to loosen bonds it shows us how strong the bonds are. And they drive us to Jesus…because there is no real way out.
The OT command “have no other gods before me,” has a NT equivalent which is “by grace, through faith alone in Jesus.” Jesus is our bond to God. Only Jesus. To make God the only god is to choose his only Son…the saving grace and forgiveness and new life we can get nowhere else.
Putting faith in Jesus creates the bond with God and creates a new reality amidst the tension of never-ending gods and idols. The new reality begins with grace. We receive grace…for the entanglements we have. They will not instantly go away when we turn to Jesus, and they will be there tomorrow. And you will fail in the future. The key is to recognize it and always keep turning in faith to Jesus and enjoy his grace.
Second way to loosen bonds with gods and tighten them with God is Thankfulness. Thankfulness reminds us that the things that we had formerly turned to for affirmation, security, etc are in fact blessings. Blessings from God that we are not to worship or own, but to steward and give away. The house is not bad, the money is not evil, the family is not wrong, your recovery is not a loss… All of these things are resources for God’s work and they’re in your hands. Don’t serve them, have them serve God.
Third, and very practically, we must work to continually break the bonds with gods/idols. We do this by giving up (fasting) and giving away. If you suspect you might be overly attached…finding belonging, safety, love from something…stop it. Not necessarily permanently. But stop – to loosen the bond and to gage its strength. Or give stuff away. Instead of seeking encouragement, give encouragement. Instead of seeking to be included, include somebody. Instead of saving more, give more.
Turn to Jesus; Break the bonds.
Get the cycle of Faithà Graceà Thankfulnessà Disruption going and watch God work in and through your life…
QUESTIONS
The scriptures (2 Cor 10) say “…we take captive every thought…” How vigilant are you at exposing your own tenancies and successes in allowing other gods to be God? Give an example of a thought, a reaction, a surprising behavior that made you say something like, ‘Whoa, where’d that come from?”
What threatens to to take the place of God in your life? What can you do to lessen the bond?
In strengthening your bond with God through Jesus, which is most difficult for you – faith, grace or thankfulness? Why?
