written by Sharon Jaynes
Just What You've Always Wanted
Today's Truth
Jesus said: "I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of," (John 10:10b The Message).
Friend to Friend
Yard sales. I've never really liked them. But when we were preparing to move from our home of twenty years, we decided it was a must. It was a way to clean out the clutter, make a little money, and not haul out yesterday's treasures to today's trash. We displayed our lovely attic décor on makeshift plywood tables and waited for the bargain babes to descend. We were not disappointed. Two hours before the advertised opening time, treasure hunters began congregating outside the closed garage doors. Then, upon the unveiling, the swarm attacked.
Among the valuables from my past sat an electric, ceramic 12" Christmas tree with various colored lights...no doubt a gift from the eighties. One particular woman perused the lovely display and came upon this "magnificent work of art." "I've always wanted one of these!" she declared with excitement in her voice. "How much is it?"
"Three dollars," my husband, Steve, answered.
"Humph," she grunted and walked on.
Steve and I just looked at each other and stifled our laughter. Let's rewind the scene for a moment. This woman said she had always wanted a ceramic Christmas tree just like that one. (I'm not here to judge another person's dreams. That's just what she said.) Always. Her whole life. And here it was!
For a mere $3, her dream could have come true! The search over! Most likely we would have sacrificed this masterpiece for $2, but she didn't even ask. She just shrugged and walked away. Then my mind began to wander through a rummage sale of its own. As I watched the woman walk away, I thought about the Pharisees in the Bible. For years they waited for the coming of the promised Messiah. Prayed about it. Preached about it. Prepared for it. Then when Jesus showed up, they turned their backs and walked away. "Humph," they said with a shrug. "No thanks."
How many times do we long for a particular dream to come true in our lives? Long for it. Search for it. Obsess over it. A husband. A child. A job. A home. Then one day, there it is! It can be ours! The search is over. We say our "I do's," bring home the bundle of joy, log in our first eight hours, hang the last curtain. But then, a little time passes. The husband is not as romantic as we had hoped, the kids are not as obedient and loving as we had imagined, the job isn't as rewarding as we had envisioned, and the house is a never ending maze of maintenance. "Humph," we grumble.
We think we want something, and then when we get it, we decide we really don't want it after all. Let me take it one step further. How many times do we long for love, joy, and peace in our lives? We search for it, long for it, and pray about it. Then someone points us to the cross and says, "There is it. It can be yours for the asking. It's not even $3, $2 or $1. It's free!" "Humph," we shrug. "No thanks." And we walk away to rummage through the yard sales of life looking for treasure among other people's clutter.
Dear friend, God is holding out His Holy hand with the most magnificent Gift of all time. Love, joy, and peace personified in His Son, Jesus Christ. He is what you have always been longing for, searching for, watching for. Jesus said, "I have come that they might have life and have it to the full," (NIV). Will we take him up on the offer, or say, "Humph, no thanks," and walk away?
Let's Pray
Heavenly Father, thank You for making all my dreams come true. You have given me everything I have ever longed for in the person of Jesus Christ. Please forgive me for turning my back on Your amazing Gift and trying to fill my longings with people and possessions. I know that nothing will ever satisfy my desire for peace, love, and joy except Jesus. And Lord, I also know that when I am filled with the peace, love, and joy of Jesus, I will spill that love onto those around me.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
Now It's Your Turn
Have you ever searched and searched for something in particular, and then when you found it, you realized it wasn't so great after all? Make a list. If you're like me, it is probably long...if you're honest.
Now let's look inward. Are there longings in your life that you are expecting other people to fill, but in reality, you know in your "knower" that only Jesus can really fill? If so, what do you need to do about it?
Let's chat. I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's devotion. Please visit www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes or www.sharonjaynes.com/blog and share with your Girlfriends in God.
Additional Resource
If you would like to learn more about how to experience the abundant, victorious Christian life, then you'll want to read Sharon's book, Becoming Spiritually Beautiful. This book is her life message and the teaching that changed her life.
Are you ready to begin walking in the truth rather than stumbling over the lies?
Are you ready to begin seeing yourself as God sees you?
Then you’ll want to read Sharon’s new book,I’m Not Good Enough…and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves.
Visit her website to read an excerpt. But be warned. This book could change your life!
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