WISDOM FOR THE DAY
TUESDAY MAY 26th
*STOP PURSUING SHADOW*
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 KJV
As church people, we often engage in various activities like praising God, sharing and listening to His Word, dancing, worshipping, and lifting our hands. However, if Jesus isn’t the focus, we’ve lost it all. The church revolves around Jesus.
Paul said, “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2). Paul said, “That I may know him” (Philippians 3:10). Paul’s greatest desire, his greatest hunger, and greatest passion is to know Christ intimately.
Paul, a passionate yet misguided religious man, once prioritized rules and regulations. He was concerned about what to do to earn God’s approval. Paul pursued it passionately. But on the road to Damascus, Jesus revealed Himself to Paul. That encounter shifted Paul’s focus from actions to the Person of Christ. (Acts 9:1-31).
Jesus appeared to him and said: “Listen, Paul, it’s not about what you do or what you don’t do. At the center of it all, it’s about me”. So, it will be wrong to pursue the shadow when the real thing has come. You will be shocked by how many believers are pursuing shadow, and they are very religious and passionate about it. Why would you pursue shadow when the real thing has come?
A man travelled outside the shore of his country, and because he was outside his matrimonial home, he took the photographs of his wife and children with him. Whenever he misses them, he will bring out the pictures to look at them. Won’t it be stupid if he came back home and he is still looking at their photographs when they are alive there with him?
So, the challenge is that many believers are looking at photographs, even when they are at home with the real thing. Many believers are looking at pictures and not at the real person. May the Lord open your eyes to the realities of the Gospel.
Further Reading: Micah 7:7, Titus 2:13-14.