Thursday, October 04, 2007

April 08


Soul Cravings – Part I: Intimacy


There lies within each of us the desire for something more, something different. There are three longings God wants to help us satisfy. Consider how Erwin McManus introduces this subject.

There are cravings within me that pull on me like an addiction. They have been with me and have even at times tormented me. They go deeper than any physical addiction ever could. Beyond my flesh, beyond my mind, beyond my heart, there seems to be a place where my deepest and most powerful cravings lie. And they do not lie there silently. My soul, it seems, always desires and demands, and no matter how hard I try to satisfy it, it always craves more. No, not more, but something I can’t seem to understand. Jesus once said the kingdom of God is within us…. I would like to guide you on a soul journey and help you discover that which is already within you. Ahead you will find a trilogy. You will find three quests that we are all on: a quest for intimacy, a quest for destiny, and a quest for meaning. My soul craves. If yours does too, then let’s travel together for awhile.

Intimacy

A friend loveth at all times….

Proverbs 17:17a (KJV)


I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.

John 15:9 (NLT)


Intimacy. I believe there are two parts to this craving. First, we need to be loved. It’s both a want and a need. Second, we need to love. Sound simple? It is, and the bottom line of it all is this: God loves me. He loves you. When we realize this plain truth, when we accept it and return the love He’s given—wow! Something wonderful happens.

First, we find a kind of contentment. An inner peace. But even more, as we return His love, we learn His way, and we ready ourselves. We are thus filled and enabled to reach others with the same love with which He loved us. And, oh, is it a powerful love!

It may be challenging at times. Loving others as Christ would love can be hard, but our soul desire is to act, to express, to show. We can't help but want to share this God-love, and the results are satisfying. For it is in God and in others we find our deepest joy.

Jesus understood this soul craving, so let me close with His words. Jesus said it this way:

I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.

John 15:9-17


Lord, satisfy this soul craving … and bring Your greater joy! Amen.