All Consuming

Moses is a shepherd.

Where once he was part of Egyptian royalty with an upbringing in the most prestigious courts of world power as well as a heritage in a unique people group, now all of that is far away as he looks after the herds of his father-in-law. How the mighty have fallen. Yet he is content. He is married, his father-in-law is a religious type as well so he’s never far from considering some of the spiritual roots to which he belongs. Is this what his life was destined to be about? Looking after sheep? I don’t know if he was considering this when in collecting his herd on the far side of a mountain he saw a distinctly unusual sight. After all if something is ablaze it shouldn’t still be intact, and yet this bush burns fiercely, it appears to be completely consumed in the flame and yet … how can that be?

One of the pre-set assumptions I work from in human interactions is that all humans are hard-wired to worship. Saying that has people considering all kinds of scenarios with which they usually associate ‘worship’ and when they compare that to their way of lifestyle that seems a ludicrous statement. If we consider worship as the tendency to devote ourselves to someone or something applying a worth to it beyond regular attention and placing a high value on it with actions, words and thoughts reinforcing that, then even an atheist would have to give it some more thought. Worship can involve routinely taken actions, but at its best it invokes the mind and soul – the emotions are involved, our well-being is determined by the object of our worship. Things can appear to be falling apart elsewhere but if things are rocking and rolling as far as the worship issue is concerned then we can remain content. Whereas if all appears to be going well externally but that worship focus is not as it should be then anxiety can lead to depression.

Reflecting on my own journey it has been fascinating to consider the things that have taken up my affections and to which I have attributed worship. Although I was brought up in a God-fearing home with parents very much in love with God and devoted to Him, that was not my first port of call when it came to worship. I was cognizant of God, but my first devotion was towards football (or soccer if you will). Though not a regular player myself, and circumstances never allowed me to get to matches, I worshipped the game. Even now I enjoy the game and have a healthy appreciation of it without it being as all-consuming as it used to be. Back when it was the be all and end all I know that my mood would be easily swayed depending on how Liverpool fared.

When I became a Christian ‘officially’ through baptism, my attitude did not change to football overnight. It did eventually change, though, and I developed a fervent interest in Christian things … without being taken up with God as expressed in His Son Jesus Christ. I went to university and got involved with the student radio station and over time I developed a devotion to the radio station. The creativity and fun to be derived from thinking of links, features, shows, interviews and then developing those in harness with others was mesmerising. I perhaps spent more time on the radio station than I did actually studying and I came out of university keen to get involved in radio somewhere to continue the all-consuming passion that had begun there.

God had other plans and instead took me on a journey of learning what it was to walk by faith and not by sight, completely depending on Him for physical, mental, material and emotional sustenance. During that time though the media flame kept burning, it was not the focus of all things. Over time that focus changed to church stuff – church planting, church growth and all the things involved in the administrating and effective running of a new church plant. One that was rooted in community engagement everything was wrapped up in being busy with church activity.

That only worked to an extent, for even in the Christian language we were using and things of that nature, the actual pursuit of Christ, real discipleship and growing in love with each other ironically took a back-seat to the church activity. Confessing one to another was not on the cards because we were too busy with the next church in the community project. Everything came second to that priority, because surely in doing that then we would be putting Christ and His Kingdom first. Surely as we devoted our lives to the activity then everything else would fall into place. The evidence beneath the surface suggested otherwise and went to show again that you can look successful on the outside using statistics and events and buildings and plans to ‘prove’ it, but the actual fruit can be less substantial than you would have others believe.

Recently I had the chance to get involved in something – media related as well. It appeared to be the ideal opportunity to exercise the gifts and skills I’ve been given and develop them likewise and make my way in an area I’ve desired for so long. As a pioneering effort in the area it was a chance to get involved on the ground floor and go from there and shape my own growth and get to do what I would have loved to do.

Yet as I prayerfully explored it further and got good counsel, I soon discovered the flaws behind it. One of the chief ones being that to be properly involved in the project would have meant taking a similar approach to it as I had with the football, the university radio station and the church plant stuff. That is to say I would have to be totally devoted to it. It would have to consume my thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Any other level of commitment to it would not have been fair or right for something that required fully committed people. So despite its glittering opportunities, I had to decline the offer.

As I declined I was reminded of Moses’ encounter that changed his life forever. From that bush completely consumed spoke the voice of God. It reminded me of the life Moses would go onto live where as far as he was concerned he needed to be completely consumed by God to the extent that if God’s presence didn’t go with him he would rather not go even if it meant missing out on the Promised Land. Such devotion influenced his successor Joshua who near the end of his leadership of Israel challenged the people as to who they would be devoted to and declared that him and his household would be devoted to God. That burning bush acts as a symbol of those who choose to dedicate their lives to God – they are completely consumed by Him so that they maybe channels through which He can communicate with His world.

It is that level of dedication that Jesus was intimating to the Woman at the Well that the time was coming and now is when worshippers worship the Father in Spirit and Truth. Not just a matter of routine, geographical location or special dates and times but a lifestyle marked by knowing God for who He is and being completely filled by Him to the very essence of our being. That is reflected in the love we have for each other and the mercy we show towards others. It is why we always diligently seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit, so that this all-consuming life can be a reality to us and others.  

This is why we are to be very careful in what is all consuming to us.  This is why we must guard our love for the Lord Jesus so that it is just that and only that, so that we won’t miss Him for the gifts He has given us.  So that we will be completely sold out to burn brightly for Him.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd