Skip to main content

Wrong App

At times I find myself mindlessly looking through social media.  I go to Facebook, look around, and close the app.  I then open Twitter, look around, and close the app.  I may then open Instagram and do the same.  Then it's back to Facebook. Often I do this and feel empty.  I feel like I am searching for something and can't find it.

Meanwhile, all the answers are one app over.  The emptiness I feel is fulfilled in this app. The search ends in this app. It's the one stop shop that can fill me up.  That app is the Bible app. One tiny little app holds the entirety of the Bible-in multiple translations, Bible study tools, videos, and much much more.  God's truth is presented in numerous ways so I can understand.  So, I can find what I'm searching for.

Seems like a microcosm of our human existence.  We chase after things and stuff. We chase a successful career or the world's definition of the perfect family. We try to keep up with the neighbors. We seek after joy from things of this earth. We place our hope in people.  We show up for a couple of hours on Sunday and throw out hands in the air to worship. Then the other 166 hours of the week we chase after the empty promises of this world.  In the end we feel empty. Like we are searching for something and can't find it.  

We are looking in the wrong app.  We are looking for the wrong things to fulfill our hunger for peace and joy.  Nothing of this world can give us hope and joy like the love of our heavenly father, Jesus Christ.  What the world offers is empty lies. Only the Father offers what you crave. Only the life of Jesus can fill our emptiness.

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

1 John 2:15‭-‬17 NLT

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Matt














Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Right In Front of Me

There is one character in the story of the night of Jesus' arrest that sticks out. He seems insignificant to what is happening. He’s almost an interruption in the story. He is only mentioned by name in one of the four gospels, even though the description of what occurred is in all four gospels.  Malchus is his name. He works for the people who want Jesus dead. His job, with his compadres, is to seize Jesus and bring him back to the high priest. There he would be subject to questioning, a trial of sorts.  As Malchus and his posse are approaching, Peter takes action to protect Jesus. “With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear” (Matthew 26:51). Jesus immediately tells Peter and the rest of his disciples to stop with the violence.  I wonder what Malchus thought at this point. I imagine his was in shock, I would guess he was surprised. He had just been attacked and surely is bleeding ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Glow Differently

I saw this quote recently, “You glow differently when your confidence is fueled by belief in yourself instead of validation from others.” I found myself wrestling with it. I completely agree with the concept that the validation of my worth is not established by the thoughts of others. While I think a positive self image is important, I do not think that it is what really makes me “glow differently.” I hope I glow differently because of whom I believe in, rather than what I believe of myself.  The author of Titus says, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7) . Love and kindness entered the world in the form of a m...
Post a Comment
Read more

Grits

This past Saturday I got the chance to catch up with my friend at breakfast. We connected months ago over grits, of all things. I learned he really didn't care for grits. Turns out his parents used to make him eat them quite often and in many forms. As he has grown older he's made the conscious decision, he's had enough grits for a lifetime. On the other hand, I really enjoy grits. They are a wonderful breakfast food with butter, salt, and pepper. For dinner, you can't beat some good shrimp and grits. I have a recipe for jambalaya grits that will put a smile on anyone's face. It is like jambalaya meets cheese grits. Yum! My friend and I joke about grits everytime we see each other. I offer him some and he politely refuses. Of course, I respect his wishes and don't give him any grits. How do you offer someone grits? Do you insist they eat and like them because you eat them? Do you put them on their plate anyway? Do you treat them differently bec...
Post a Comment
Read more