“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 1:17
One interesting thing about living with my wife, a female, is the random popping up of her questions, ideas and motivational material. As a married couple we share time and space. What beauty FILLS that space is HER domain. GETTING it filled is usually mine. But her request to me yesterday must have come from outer space!
The ONLY thing that makes sense is that she must have wanted me to agree that flowers were necessary for the front of the house. This is a foreign thought and would NEVER ‘pop’ into my male brain. But knowing that did not deter her. Laying on her cute, little wifely voice she asked me, “will you come sit and look at something with me and give me your opinion?” KNOWING this was a trap, I proceeded with caution. It turned out that she wanted my opinion on the color, type and arrangement of potted flowers! I laughed!
Desire is a powerful thing, since what I WANT motivates my actions. Since my wife and I are considered ‘one’ in God’s eyes, HER wants need to be clearly conveyed and SOLD to me in order to make them MY wants. That‘s what ‘being one’ is all about! I am ALSO one with God! And HIS desires REMAIN His until I get motivated to make His desires MINE!
Worldly desires are also called the FLESH. God NEVER couples Himself with my flesh, since there is nothing there He desires. The flesh, as a raging, powerful and impulsive motivator, is a dead man walking! God appeals to Himself and HIS gift of eternal life as His replacement motivator for my life. THINKING about it doesn’t count until I ‘DO IT!’ DOING His will get me the prize…HIM!
After I laughed at my wife’s request, I saw it for what it was. She REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wanted flowers in the front of the house. So much so that she invented the craziest way to get what she wanted…by inviting MY opinion INTO her desire! Come to think about it, doesn’t God do precisely the same thing!
Sending a son to die a horrific and tragic death to win fleshy creatures over is MORE than insane! But that is what God did! And why? Because God’s love for me (and you) is EXTRAVAGANTLY insane! But… it shows how far He was willing to go to win me over. He has presented me a crazy deal…”Believe and do what my Son says, and all I Am and have is yours!” Hmmmmm…it’s not a bad plan to consider!
There are new potted flowers in front of our house. NOT because I care about flowers. But because I care about my wife. Even though finding out what SHE wants can be a VERY interesting venture. So now I must ask… hat does God want from ME? Or YOU?
