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

Anchor House: Week 6 Buried Treasure

When I started at Anchor House I committed to write at least one blog per week. Writing is something I enjoy and a way I get to interact with God. I can recall wanting to write about Anchor House in the days before I started, but my knowledge was limited..  To be honest I felt like I knew three things before I joined Anchor House. First,  Anchor House was a mission at Port Manatee (the Seaport, not the jail) Second, I knew it was a mission that my church, Westside Christian Church, supported with our Show Love funds.  Third, I knew God was calling me to serve Him there. However, what happened at Anchor House day to day was something of a mystery to me.   After being here for a few weeks I have learned quite a bit. I know where to look to find out when ships are coming in or departing.  I have learned that I am just tall enough to hit my head where most seafarers don’t. I have learned that flexibility is the key to serving at a seaport. One of th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Anchor House Week 10: I Love It

This past week was week 10 at Anchor House. When I run into friends who I used to work with at State College of Florida or friends I haven't seen in a while, the first question is, "How do you like it?" I typically reply, "I love it." This week I've been challenged about that answer. It just won't do. It is too generic of an answer to truly describe what I am experiencing. It's too simple to describe the blessing of God working through you. It is too plain to explain the feeling of knowing you are right where God has planned for you to be.  I always thought I had purpose in my career. I know we are to worship God through the work He has provided for us to do. At times, however, the work I previously did seemed mundane and lacking purpose. I felt like I could do God's work where I was, but I had this feeling as if there was something more.  A week or so ago I was with one of our partner churches sharing how God works through Anchor H...
Post a Comment
Read more

Welcome Children

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to Him, and placed the child among them. And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." - Matthew 18:1‭-‬5 NIV This past Sunday was simply life-giving at Westside Christian Church. The energy and excitement were palatable. My daughter couldn't wait to get to church. She was excited to worship with her friends and have fun together afterwards.   With the VBS takeover, the church was packed! Sure there were a few seats open, but there was a line of people standing in the back. It is safe to say it was "standing room only". Fitting with the story of Zacchaeus that Pastor Russ shared.   Jes...
Post a Comment
Read more