Apathy and Kings (2 pts in 1)

Part 1: Apathy

As I was reading Acts 11, a random verse stood out to me. V23 “When he (Barnabas) came and saw the grace of God, he was glad and exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose”. I was like... that’s so interesting why “steadfast purpose” was there. Like isn’t it enough to just say, to remain faithful to the Lord. And then today’s sermon came about apathy. And fun fact, amen = truth. In Rev, my pastor preached on the church of Laodicea and being lukewarm. Typical passage, but new twist. I thought it was interesting that Jesus introduces himself as “the AMEN” or in other words, the truth and the truth is that he is the beginning of all creation. And then there’s the historical context that helped me understand how intentional Jesus is when he addresses this church. He relates it to their geographical location and how they would need water sources some from the North that were pipping hot that were used for healing and bathing and some for the south that was ice cold and used for refreshment. But he used an intentional illustration that mimicked their water system where the aqueducts would take water from the north and south and mix them and become lukewarm. But what I didn’t know about lukewarm water was that it has all this mineral taste that would make someone want to vomit and is why Jesus explain that spitting out the water is the same Greek word for vomiting. Anyways, the point of this is that Jesus is basically calling the church’s water useless bc of the state that its in (lukewarm). And then it’s sooooo interesting how Jesus takes each place of the city’s self-sufficiency whether it be the black sheep cloth they were known for to clothe themselves or inventing this eye ointment that allows them to see etc. Jesus uses an analogy to show their truest state in their self-proclaimed sufficiency by calling them blind, naked, and needing of white garments. It is so interesting and so cool how intentional Jesus is when addressing their self-sufficiency- he literally takes what they are self-sufficient and exposes them. In general this sermon reminds me of the Acts passage I read the other day because, apathy comes from a place where we can think we are faithful to the Lord but aren’t actually set on our steadfast purpose. Our steadfast purpose being, worshipping and intimately being in relationship with him. Far too often we are doing and saying the things of God with our hearts far off.

I think it also makes me think about how often I have needs that I try to fill without even acknowledging God until I am desperate. And even simplifying it even more, what are my needs and where and how am I trying to get them met. Do I find myself desperately needing Jesus everyday? And then two, in conjunction with the Acts passage, it has made me think about work and how easy it is for me to have Jesus in certain facets of my life and then kind of removing him from the equation in other parts of my life. Like Jesus can be here in these friendship and in church, but when it comes to work, my “steadfast purpose” and being faithful to God honestly dwindles. Not too sure how that looks, but that’s something I am considering and praying about. And trying to be more intentional with not being so self-sufficient at work either.

Part 2: Kings

False Kings for All My Needs

I was reading Acts again... dude God has been speaking, so continuing from the last post. I talked about needs and how I meet them and as I was reading Acts 13 when Paul and Barnabas were preaching, verse 21 came up “Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin”. And then that reminded me of 1 Samuel 8:1-18.

Specifically verses 1-9:

8 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3 Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”

OH so interesting right... okay let’s see if I can break it down. TLDR: How often do we find that we have needs and then look to people and things to become our king instead of looking to the true king who is the only one who can meet our needs!

So we have a situation here where Israel is experiencing injustice within their leadership, but the first thing they look toward is another man. And God straight up exposes their desires and where they are looking for their desires to be met in V7”: “But they have rejected me from being their king over them”.

In short, Israel continually and I think I find myself continually seeking these unmet desires and unmet needs in other people and things. It’s really easy for me as an example to have a day where I don't have plans then get jealous if I don’t get invited to something or begin to think something is wrong with me. OK so the need is- I need validation or people to be with me as validation to feel good about myself or to feel wanted, accepted, known , loved, etc. But thankfully with therapy and Jesus, I was able to be like wait these things aren’t true. I actually have the song to help remind of a very foundational truth that’s semi-related “in the quiet, in the stillness I know that you are God”. It’s a reminder that when I am by myself and in the silent, it’s not space that should be filled with jealousy or insecurity, but taking those moments to remind me that God is the only one who can meet my needs with whatever fills that space and tries to steal my joy or distracts me from my true identity in Christ. Anyways, this is the part 2 to answer my original question from the other entry.