mud pies in a slum

Thanks to a "GFF" (gospel friend forever) for sharing this devo with us this week~

       “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 

This is the first and greatest commandment.”

Matthew 22:37-38    

“Despite our extraordinary calling – to experience God’s love and to love Him in return – we fill our lives with idols. Given the greatest invitation in the universe, we treat it as an obligation that we might be able to squeeze in around our interests.  Could anything be more ludicrous? The infinite, holy, jealous, merciful, mighty Ancient of Days makes a straight path for us into His heart of passion, and our response is so often to say, “We’ll see; I’ve got some other things I’d like to do, too.” The angels must be astonished at the squandering of such an opportunity.  The idols of our hearts grip us tightly. We are afraid to let go of them. We are like children content to make mud pies in a slum because we can’t imagine what is meant by the offer of a vacation at the beach (imagery provided by C.S. Lewis).  We hang on to what we know – our idols – because fellowship with God is too incredible for us to grasp.  Our idols are essentially one-night stands. They provide a moment of empty pleasure, but there is no lasting joy in them. They string us along with the offer of contentment, but contentment never comes. They rob us of something far more valuable – an intimacy of infinite depth with a Lover whose love has no limits.  The passions that draw us away from God can be intense. Jesus does not ask us to rid ourselves of passion, but to turn that passion toward God. When we realize this and break ourselves free from the illusions – or delusions – that make us think we can find fulfillment in anything other than Him, our lives begin to resemble watered, fruitful  oases where there was once desert. Determine to pursue God in love as a response to His loving pursuit of you. Leave everything else behind. 
(Chris Tiegreen)

Journal Time:

1.  Read through the devo again slowly.

2.  List ways you can "experience God’s love and express     your love to Him in return" this week. (Fight)


3.  Define the "fight" step in your own words.


4.  How are you making mud pies right now?

5.  What can wash away the mud? Write phrases and words in your journal as you listen... 

6.  Pray and repent of your unbelief.  Recommit to living out your new-found identity in Christ this week.