What are you pursuing?

Do you love chocolate?

I heard a slew of people just respond with a hearty, "YES!"

I suppose there are many who can say they love many things. We love chocolate, coffee, shopping, cars, etc. Issues arise when we use the word 'love' in conjuction with things.

love - [ləv] -- NOUN

an intense feeling of deep affection: e.g. "babies fill parents with intense feelings of love" ·

*synonyms: deep affection · fondness · tenderness · warmth · intimacy · attachment

(Powered by Oxford Dictionaries · © Oxford University Press )

A 'feeling of deep affection" seems to be reserved for interpersonal relationships not relationships with things. When we say we love something, we run the risk of separating our true purpose for some purpose less fulfilling.

(Word puzzle)

What consumes your time? Is there a pursuit of some 'thing' that diminishes your life to nothing more than a treadmill existence? The longer one chases, the further away the prize seems to appear. Our lives were never designed to be pursuers of things. We were originally given everything we needed. (See Genesis 1 and 2) Our lives were designed to have "feelings of deep affection" for our God and then to demonstrate that same love for our neighbors (See Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18)

The psalmist understood the difference between worshiping the living God and bowing to those man made gods which had nothing to offer. In bowing to idols of all kinds, the people were moving toward and falling into the trap of becoming the very thing they pursued and worshiped.

"Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Why

do the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. But their

idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they

cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot

feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will

be like them, and so will all who trust in them. O house of Israel, trust in the LORD— he is their help and

shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD— he is their help and shield. You who fear him, trust in the

LORD— he is their help and shield. (Psalm 115:1-11, NIV)

Today, let's make a concerted effort to focus our hearts on God. Honor God with a short prayer of adoration and thanksgiving. Be a holy and present influence in the world wherever you find yourself today. Share some of your resources to lift another human being a little higher. Offer God a portion of your day in service to help another struggling soul. Be sure to give God the glory for all your blessings and allow others to see the deep 'love' you have for your God, Creator, Father, Redeemer, Savior, Shepherd, Comforter, King,....