Colossians 1:10 NKJV - "That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him..."
I remember an old hymn we used to sing. I'm quoting just the chorus:
"Nothing between my soul and the Savior, so that His blessed face may be seen. Nothing preventing the least of His favor; keep the way clear, let nothing between."
I like to think I'm dedicated to Jesus and I often think of my work I do for Him as proof. But in my study of the book of Revelation I've noted what others have seen as well, the Ephesian church mentioned in Rev. 2:1-7, was commended for their hard work, but they were soundly rebuked for their leaving their "first love." They had substituted ministry for worship and fellowship. They were more in love with their labor than they were with their Lord.
As I write this I'm thinking of my wife and how often she expresses her desire that I just spend time with her. My busy work in ministry doesn't allow me a lot of time to be home, or at least be with my wife. And if I try to buy her stuff to somehow make her know I love her, well, she finds that a poor substitute for just being in the chair next to her. My work for her isn't what she wants either. It's me.
And Jesus is even more desirous of my companionship with Him than my work for Him. My worship and fellowship with Jesus is far more meaningful to Him than anything else. Yes, even my ministry can come "between my soul and my Savior." Sure, I have dedicated my life to serve the Lord. But my real dedication is to Him. If I am to "walk worthy of the Lord," that walk should be as another song says, "And, He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own..." I need to "walk with Him and talk with Him" and tell Him, "He is my own." That blesses His heart! And that makes sure "there's nothing between"!
I remember an old hymn we used to sing. I'm quoting just the chorus:
"Nothing between my soul and the Savior, so that His blessed face may be seen. Nothing preventing the least of His favor; keep the way clear, let nothing between."
I like to think I'm dedicated to Jesus and I often think of my work I do for Him as proof. But in my study of the book of Revelation I've noted what others have seen as well, the Ephesian church mentioned in Rev. 2:1-7, was commended for their hard work, but they were soundly rebuked for their leaving their "first love." They had substituted ministry for worship and fellowship. They were more in love with their labor than they were with their Lord.
As I write this I'm thinking of my wife and how often she expresses her desire that I just spend time with her. My busy work in ministry doesn't allow me a lot of time to be home, or at least be with my wife. And if I try to buy her stuff to somehow make her know I love her, well, she finds that a poor substitute for just being in the chair next to her. My work for her isn't what she wants either. It's me.
And Jesus is even more desirous of my companionship with Him than my work for Him. My worship and fellowship with Jesus is far more meaningful to Him than anything else. Yes, even my ministry can come "between my soul and my Savior." Sure, I have dedicated my life to serve the Lord. But my real dedication is to Him. If I am to "walk worthy of the Lord," that walk should be as another song says, "And, He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own..." I need to "walk with Him and talk with Him" and tell Him, "He is my own." That blesses His heart! And that makes sure "there's nothing between"!
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