Last week we discussed not just loving God (some of the time) or knowing His rules (in your head), but that we all should be completely obsessed with God! Obsession is normally seen as a bad thing in society - people taking their interest or passion to the extreme, completely idolizing the thing they are obsessed with. There's the issue: they create an idol out of something that isn't God. Being obsessed with God is what He calls us to do. He wants us to immerse ourselves in his Word and write it on our hearts, to live our lives guided and completely devoted to Him and His way, and to think and talk about Him all the time (Deut. 6:7; Gal. 5:25; Deut. 11:18)!
I made a little sheet just like I did for chapter 4! I'll hand them out tomorrow at Sunday school (or put one in your mailbox if you're not there). It's a list of all of Chan's descriptions about someone who is obsessed with God. The list is by no means exhaustive, just a jumping off place. Here's a few of them that really hit me:
- A person who is obsessed thinks about heaven frequently. Obsessed people orient their lives around eternity; they are not fixed only on what is here in front of them.
- A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle. Obsessed people know that you can never be "humble enough," and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known (Matt. 5:16).
- People who are obsessed are raw with God; they do not attempt to mask the ugliness of their sins or their failures. Obsessed people don't put it on for God; He is their safe place, where they can be at peace.
- Obsessed people are more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo. A person who is obsessed with Jesus will do things that don't always make sense in terms of success or wealth on this earth. As Martin Luther put it, "There are two days on my calendar: this day and that day" (Luke 14:25-35; Matt. 7:13-23; 8:18-22; Rev. 3:1-6).
Can't wait to see you and discuss Chapter 9 tomorrow! :)
