What Consumes Your Thoughts?

Right now, we are still in the deer hunting season. They can start with bow, then rifle, and I believe there is even a section in there for black powder hunting. I have seen hunters consumed with that. They start looking forward to and preparing as soon as the hunting ends this year. There are the quilters that are often consumed with fabric and quilt making. I saw one cartoon where the wife said, “The only basting I will be doing this Thanksgiving is on my quilt”. There are many that are so consumed that they have to hide it from their husbands. I have heard of some even hiding their fabric in the freezer. That is truly consumed. There is the athlete that lives for the next game. There is the football fan that will cheer on their team, even if they are coming in dead last. If they are coming in first, then you’ll never hear the end of it. We all know of people that are consumed with something. You may very well be consumed too. How many of us, however, are consumed with God so that it overflows in our lives into the lives of others? I heard this quote today, “People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.” We have been so brought up to think that when we retire, or even as we work for our daily living, we deserve to sit back and be comfortable. I am not saying that this is not allowed, but I wonder how far we take that comfort. One thing we must realize is that nothing that we have can be taken with us. What we have is destined to the people of this world. Second, the more comfortable we are, and the less engaged we are in our faith, the less we are focused on God. He should not just be a thought in the morning when we wake up and a thought at night before we go to bed. We are told to pray continuously... not to give up meeting together... to go and make disciples of all nations... etc. It does not say to relax and disengage. As we age our participation changes, but the desire... the obsession to be obedient must supersede everything. Father, stir in our hearts that we don’t become bystanders, but may our lives be consumed with following You. Amen