“The collision of our desire to live a nice little life and our need to remain in Jesus can bring about a sanctification of our will, where all things truly are subjected to Christ.”- John Eldredge
“Remain in me, and I will remain in you.”- John 15:4
Today in the Fall section of Walking with God, John Eldredge notes that we often overlook Jesus’ seemingly simple command to remain in Him. Thus, if Jesus must tell us we need to remain in Him, He knows it’s quite possible not to remain in Him. In fact, our common life consists of a life lived separate from God.
As a result, we tend to want two mutually opposed things, to:
- live a nice little life
- play an important role in God’s kingdom
In other words, Jesus, our Good Shepherd, heads in one direction. However, we head in another, but not to some easily recognizable, flagrant sin. We simply wander off, looking for the pasture we think best. It doesn’t even cross our minds to ask God about it.
John stresses we must remember that, as Christians, we don’t get to live a normal life. To remain in Jesus, John states, we must accept that fact in all the details of our lives.
However, John stresses, we don’t ask because we don’t want to know what God thinks. For if we know what God thinks, then we face the decision whether to follow His counsel or not. Thus, the issue becomes obedience.
Therefore, we return to holiness. to ask = an act of holiness. We ask because we seek to follow the Good Shepherd and live by faith in Him. Our “nice little life” thing really gets in the way.
In conclusion, John emphasizes, holiness doesn’t equate with abandoning our desires- a resigned posture of the soul that asks God to “tell me what to do and I’ll do it.” Rather, in holiness the heart is present and engaged with God. As we bring our desires to Him, we submit our wills to His. We genuinely trust that what He says is best.
Today’s question: To what degree do you desire a nice little life? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Our day-to-day grind; nothing close to Eden”
