“You don’t need Jesus”
Reading these words and even as I write I feel a bit offended and I automatically think…
“Um, no, I do I need Jesus, I really neeeeeed Jesus.”
So why do I say this?
Well, its not me saying this.
It’s my comfy bed
And hot water showers.
It’s the WiFi and couches
Its the soft towels
And the put me to sleep couches in the TV room.
Its the mall across the road
And that McDonalds with MudPie McFlurrys.
It’s the warm sunshine and the beaches up the road
It’s the pool across the yard
And the mental list of things to do.
It’s the everyday, normal life things
And all the things you would never expect to have on a mission trip.
It’s the way of the world
Its the count down of days til I fly home
And really do walk back into “normal” life.
It’s the current of life, relentlessly pushing me toward a life I have denied.
Its the comfort and endless opportunities to spend your time else where…
Else where being,
Not clinging to the Lord.
Can you hear it now?
You don’t need Jesus, you need to relax.
You don’t need Jesus, you need to have some fun.
You don’t need Jesus, you can talk to him later.
You don’t need Jesus, you need to catch up with friends.
You don’t need Jesus, go hang out by the pool.
You don’t need Jesus, you are comfortable and life is good.
You don’t need Jesus, you have everything you need right here.
You don’t need Jesus, you just need to work harder.
You don’t need Jesus, you just need to figure some things out.
You don’t need Jesus…
It makes me cringe at the recollection of how many times not only have I heard this lie but also momentarily accepted it. With the excuse that I will get around to Him later. (Especially here, on a mission trip!!)
Later.
Later.
I’ll give you my definition:
Later: verb: an action that will bring about distance and if habitual near death to your relationship with Christ.
Excuse my frankness, I’m speaking from experience.
Even writing this makes me a little uncomfortable, conviction washing over me. As much as I say I need Jesus, how often do I chose stress, worry, anxiety and planning or mindless busyness instead of Him? Even here.
(Here’s the key)
It’s a constant battle.
It’s a battle against our human nature
its’ a battle against the world
its’ a battle against, normalcy, complacency,
apathy, and going through the motions
its a battle against the lies
It’s warfare.
When I say I’m human, its not an excuse its a fact. I’m human and my human ways naturally draw me to the lies, the sin, the distance from God.
But it doesn’t stop there, I didn’t say: “I’m only human”
because I’m not.
There is something way bigger than being human about us, in us, and it’s that special things about us, that allows our, “no, we do need Jesus,” really mean something and helps us fight this battle.
When we accept Jesus as our Savior our “only human, sinner” status goes out the window.
When we accept Jesus as our Savior the Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus, comes and dwells in us. We no longer people of the world, but now Children of God. We are now dead to sin and alive in Christ. We are no longer sinners, but called saints. We are no longer, only human.
It’s a constant battle, fighting the current of life and comforts that come with that are relentlessly pulling us away from God.
(It’s not just the world, its Satan, his deception, games and tricks.. Satan is all about the ways of the world.)
So we recognize the voice deceiving us, the fleshly desire, the fault of our human nature, but we fight, we stand firm and say:
“No, I do need Jesus. Its only through you Jesus that I can not only say ‘I need you Jesus’, but live that life. It’s through your strength that I will say no to LATER. It’s not me who will stand against the world, but through you Holy Spirit whom I call upon and cling to. Its the word you have given me that I will dwell on and your armor that I will put on.”
It is my prayer, the more we children say, “no, we do need Jesus” and the more we resist the devil and stand firm, the more natural it will be to go against the current of life, and the more natural it will be to deny the world, and say yes to Jesus.
It’s also my prayer that as I watch the days I have left on this trip go from 200 to 100 to now 50 some that I will step back into ‘normal life’ fully prepared to say no to things that will pull me from the closeness with God I have experienced and just continue to draw nearer to Him and live a life at home that says, “I need Jesus.”
“Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.‘”
Psalms 16: 1-2
Just read this out loud in our kitchen. So good girl, thanks for writing it. Love you!
Finally!!! Well said kacey…love you
Awesome darling and so true. I was reading Romans 7 and 8 this morning which addresses this war we fight. God has so much more to give all of us if we’ll only ask. Home or away God is with you and He has plans for you. I love you and am so proud of you.God has given you so much more than I ever dreamed possible. He is so faithful!!!
Ah 🙂 thank Nikki! I hope you guys liked it! Love you girl!
I was reading those same chapters when writing this. He does have so much to give! And He is so faithful! I love you!!!
So good kacey Kace!!! I love you!
Oh Dear Sweet Kacey, so good to hear from you!!!
I swear, throughout this trip your posts have spoken to me and gave me an extra little push and sometimes a shove lol and reminder that I was needing right at that moment…
I certainly am guilty of running to God in times of need, but not doing the same during times of comfort and satisfaction. How selfish of me!!!
We are so lucky to have such a wonderful, caring, and forgiving God guiding us through our Earthly trials. Thank you again for the reminder!!!
Looking forward to giving you a big hug and hearing all your stories real soon!!!
Love,
Heather
good word Kacey