Passion and Purity

Who Do You Want Sitting Next to You . . . A Robber or a Ruler? August 20, 2007 I am leaving town in a few hours for Florida to speak at a Presbyterian church this weekend, in preparation for our team’s summit in October. It’s a cool 60 degrees and I am sitting by the fire on my porch, spending time with the Lord, knowing I will be wringing wet in several hours as I step into the mid 90’s. But, I would rather choose to be hot and sweaty serving my Lord than cool and comfy and disobedient to the will of my Father. At least in my head . . . but is that the way I always live? John 18 was my “contemplation” passage this morning . . . the segment of my “quiet time reading” where I try to go deeper in understanding and reflection . . . where I get serious and say, “Lord, what are You trying to tell me?” When Pilate asked the religious folk of his day if they wanted a robber in their midst or a ruler hanging out with them, they chose Barabbas, a thief. Why? Could it be because the alternative was an authority . . . someone to whom they would need to submit 24/7? We don’t mind coaches. Counselors. Clergy. Or even companions, such as husbands. But to have someone to whom we need to entrust our entire lives, is acknowledging surrender of our will. It means loss of control. It means loss of rights. It means loss of comfort. It hit me . . . Why in God’s sovereignty was it a robber that was being offered as an alternative? Why not a murderer? A sex offender? Or a prostitute? Maybe God knew that down through the ages, the choice would be the same for all of us . . . Jesus as Lord or that which robs me of Jesus. A robber doesn’t look that bad in light of giving up my choice to make the final decisions in my life. I was convicted this morning that I choose a robber all too often in my daily walk. Those things which rob me of time with God, of my affections, of my focus, my purpose, my mission, and most importantly, of intimacy. Internet surfing. Channel hopping. House projects. Success climbing. Shopping. Playing. Even good books. Good church activities. And good family time. And since I am a numbers guy . . . even Sudoku. But they all are volitional choices I make. I don’t know about you, but I am getting tired of choosing Barabbas. I want a ruler. A ruler who has never yet failed to rob me of bad things for great things!

Comments