Will We Remember or Regret

photo credit: Nina Matthews Photography viaphotopin

Sometimes when you want to follow God, your heart may not keep beat with your actions. You plunge along the road of holy living because you know what you are doing is right.  Your actions line up with God’s word and instructions, but you’re left feeling a little empty, lost and lonely.  This is when you start questioning everything:

• Why did I give my sexuality over to God?
• Why am I not dating THAT guy just because he is a Christian?
• Why am I waiting when NO ONE else is,
• Why am I waiting when I don’t feel like it?

If you find yourself questioning, remember the disciples experienced their fair share of doubts too.  Jesus’ death ushered them into one of the loneliest times in their lives.  They’d given up their careers. They’d given over their hearts, hopes, dreams and futures.

When Jesus was alive, their emotions motivated them to follow.  They felt him, they saw him, and they trusted him.  But his crucifixion brought loneliness and disillusionment.  They couldn’t remember why they had followed, leaving the door open to doubt and questions.

• Why did they believe Jesus was different?
• Why did Jesus abandon them?
• Why didn’t he fight for them?

Little did they know he had resurrected.  He hadn’t left them.  He hadn’t abandoned them, and he did fight for them.  But, they didn’t remember.

Disappointed in Jesus, two of the disciples left Jerusalem, heading away from their Savior and their calling.  A “stranger” joined them along the way who knew so much about the scriptures that they shared their confusion and their sadness of Jesus’ death.  They invited him to dinner, and as the “stranger” broke a loaf of bread and offered it to them, they remembered.

They remembered all the times Jesus had served them bread. They remembered, “their eyes were opened and they recognized him.  They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).  In other words, why were we so blind on the road when he was talking to us?  How did we not know it was Jesus?

When Jesus was crucified, the disciples’ emotions took over.  Sadness and doubt clouded their eyes. They forgot what Jesus said, who he was and their mission altogether.  I’m sure they were thankful for the time they had with Jesus on the road, but they probably regretted not recognizing him.

Like them, it’s easy for us to lose sight of why we are doing what we do.  When your emotions are in conflict with the convictions you have about your sexuality, you have to remember why you are doing what you do, and the why is in the Who.

Look beside you.  Is there a “stranger” trying to guide you back to the right road?  Is he reminding you who you are and where you’ve come from?  Is he reminding you that your life was worth his death.  Is he reminding you that you are giving your sexuality over to Him because he loves you more than anyone else, because he has a more perfect love-life planned for you than anyone else?

If you want to successfully dedicate your sexuality to God, you have to give the Holy Spirit command of your actions instead of letting your humanity dictate your reactions.

Tangible Take-Away:

• Take some time to write down and remember when God has spoken to your in your life.
• If you cannot remember a time, spend some time to journal and tell God why you are thankful for Him.
• Now, take write down three specific things Jesus may be asking you to dedicate to him in your dating life.

Offer It Up:

Jesus help us to remember you.  Help us to see you when we’re walking down the wrong road.  Help us to recognize you when you are speaking to us, and help us to obey.  We are weak, but we know you are strong and want to turn us back in the right direction.

Sweet Tweet:

• When your emotions are in conflict with your convictions, remember why you do what you do; the why is in the Who. 
• Sexual Purity= letting the Holy Spirit command your actions instead of letting your humanity dictate your reactions 
• “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).