What are you
clinging to? Is there something in your
life that you cannot imagine living without?
It’s normal in our
culture to have things that we are addicted to or “need” in order to get
through our days. Common examples that I’ve observed or that have been present
in my own life are: shopping, TV, texting, hanging out with friends, video
games, school, food, soda, music, magazines, work, any so many more…
What does Scripture
say? Titus 1 says that we are to “hold fast the faithful word that [we] have
been taught…” Though this passage is specifically talking about bishops
(overseers or watchmen of the church), I think this qualification applies to us
all. “Hold fast” literally means to “hold to firmly; cleave to; pay heed to.”
It’s used 3 others times in the New Testament, and two of those times are when
Jesus is talking about how we cannot have two masters; we will either serve
mammon (literally “treasure or riches”) or Him.
So, in other words,
we cannot hold to firmly or cleave to both Jesus (the living Word) and [insert
your addiction here]. We cannot find our satisfaction in shopping and Jesus. We
cannot depend on both television and Jesus. We cannot be addicted to texting
and Jesus simultaneously. Jesus must be all.
You see, we’ve
accepted so many counterfeits. We turn to things that promise to give us what
we need, all the while rejecting the One who has already provided us with all
that we could ever need in Him.
We don’t need
caffeine for our energy or to keep us awake at work or while we are writing
that 20 page paper. We need Jesus.
We don’t need to veg
out in front of the TV in order to “relax” or have “downtime” in the evening.
We need Jesus (Acts 3: 19).
We don’t need to be
constantly surrounded by our friends or constantly texting in order to not feel
lonely. Jesus has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He is our constant
Companion.
Leonard Ravenhill
said, ““Where there is no joy, you have to fill it up with entertainment. The
more joy you have in God, the less entertainment you need outside of yourself.”
Acts 2:42 says, “And
they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine…” The word “steadfastly”
means “to adhere to, be devoted or constant to, be steadfastly attentive to,
give unremitting care, persevere and not to faint, show one’s self courageous
for, be in constant readiness for.” This word is used of prayer (Acts 6:4;
Romans 12: 12; Colossians 4: 2), fellowship (Acts 2:42), doctrine (Acts 2: 42),
and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4).
So, what are you
adhering to, being devoted to, and giving unremitting care to? Is it your TV?
Texting? Work? Shopping?
Let us forsake all
that would hinder us from pursuing hard after Jesus and cling to His Word
instead! For only in Him can true life, joy, and satisfaction be found!
Let us be steadfastly
attentive to, be constantly devoted to, and give unremitting care to knowing
His Truth, prayer, fellowship, and ministering His Word. This is what the early
Christians did. And the result?
Well, they turned
the world upside down (Acts 17: 6).
