The gift of affirmation
Many years ago, I posted on Facebook this status:
Not even sure who I was paraphrasing, but this concept is all over the Bible. Idolatry is taking anything that is not God -- an object, a person, or even an idea -- and treating it like it is God. It's adultery of the heart, and God HATES it. Yet, I am convinced that idols can be sneaky and I have to search my heart afresh regularly so I can pray with an earnest heart, "God, declare me innocent from hidden faults!" (Psalm 19).
One relationship that is particularly vulnerable to becoming idolatrous is that with a significant other, be this in dating, engagement, or marriage. Because these people mean so much to us, they can effectively replace God without our careful attention.
A couple of diagnostic questions:
-This week (even today), have I spent time cultivating my relationship with God the way I have with my husband?
-Is my mind primarily occupied by thoughts of God and service to him, or am I more concerned about managing/"fixing" aspects of my spouse or marriage?
-When I consider my spouse and what I encourage him to pursue, is it that he loves God more than anything, or that he loves me more than anything?
We've I've got to stop seeking in creatures what can only be found in the Creator.
Now, God does not exist for my affirmation, my comfort, my peace, or my joy. BUT, according to his character of steadfast love that endures forever, he is the source of these things -- perfectly. What people can only provide us briefly, in ways that ebb and flow, God provides perfectly, constantly, completely.
I don't need to be chosen - I am chosen by God (1 Thessalonians 1:4)
I don't need someone to comfort me - I am comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
I don't need my husband to affirm how I look - I am affirmed by God (Ephesians 2:10)
I don't need a person to bring me peace and security - I am sealed by God (Ephesians 1:13)
I don't need to have love initiated toward me - I am loved first by God (Romans 5:8)
I don't need to be loved perfectly - I am loved by God (John 3:16)
I don't need the future guaranteed for me - I am destined for a future by God (Philippians 1:6)
I don't need to be praised - I am delighted in by God (Zephaniah 3:17)
God, through Christ, somehow sees all of my sin, idolatry, and brokenness and doesn't turn away. He presses in, molding me and shaping me to be more like him. He teaches me who he is and draws me in to delight in him. This God is WORTHY of obsession, and no person, object, or idea comes anywhere close.
"Nothing can satisfy the longing soul like the God who created it."
Not even sure who I was paraphrasing, but this concept is all over the Bible. Idolatry is taking anything that is not God -- an object, a person, or even an idea -- and treating it like it is God. It's adultery of the heart, and God HATES it. Yet, I am convinced that idols can be sneaky and I have to search my heart afresh regularly so I can pray with an earnest heart, "God, declare me innocent from hidden faults!" (Psalm 19).
One relationship that is particularly vulnerable to becoming idolatrous is that with a significant other, be this in dating, engagement, or marriage. Because these people mean so much to us, they can effectively replace God without our careful attention.
A couple of diagnostic questions:
-This week (even today), have I spent time cultivating my relationship with God the way I have with my husband?
-Is my mind primarily occupied by thoughts of God and service to him, or am I more concerned about managing/"fixing" aspects of my spouse or marriage?
-When I consider my spouse and what I encourage him to pursue, is it that he loves God more than anything, or that he loves me more than anything?
Now, God does not exist for my affirmation, my comfort, my peace, or my joy. BUT, according to his character of steadfast love that endures forever, he is the source of these things -- perfectly. What people can only provide us briefly, in ways that ebb and flow, God provides perfectly, constantly, completely.
I don't need to be chosen - I am chosen by God (1 Thessalonians 1:4)
I don't need someone to comfort me - I am comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
I don't need my husband to affirm how I look - I am affirmed by God (Ephesians 2:10)
I don't need a person to bring me peace and security - I am sealed by God (Ephesians 1:13)
I don't need to have love initiated toward me - I am loved first by God (Romans 5:8)
I don't need to be loved perfectly - I am loved by God (John 3:16)
I don't need the future guaranteed for me - I am destined for a future by God (Philippians 1:6)
I don't need to be praised - I am delighted in by God (Zephaniah 3:17)
God, through Christ, somehow sees all of my sin, idolatry, and brokenness and doesn't turn away. He presses in, molding me and shaping me to be more like him. He teaches me who he is and draws me in to delight in him. This God is WORTHY of obsession, and no person, object, or idea comes anywhere close.
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