Do you ear what I ear?
- "Eww, Matt! Is that a picture of your ear??"
Spot on, faithful blog reader! That is a picture of my ear.
You may be wondering why I took a picture of my ear but that's not the purpose of this post. The theme for today's reflection is listening. Listening to God speaking to our hearts.
- "But it's an ear!"
Look, that's not th..
- "Look?! Are you going to post a picture of your eyeball now and tell us to 'look' around or something??"
... *Sigh*...
Right. Moving on then. In part I of the Advent reflection last week I discussed how we need to listen to the Lord knocking on the door of our lives, let Him in, and then not be afraid to give Him full access to every part of our heart..
- "Every part??"
Yes... every part.
- "Even.."
ESPECIALLY that part.
- "*gasp*"
You said it faithful blog reader: *gasp* is right. God wants in - especially the places we're least excited about.
Advent is a time when we anticipate the coming of our "God-hero" as Scripture calls Him; our Savior. We need to be saved from so much - sin, lies, fear, shame, difficulties of all kinds. There is a lot down there in the depths of our hearts. There are many rooms which remain locked, many rooms which have never seen the light of truth, many rooms with "Caution" tape blocking the entryways and "Danger: Do Not Enter" signs posted outside.
Yes, these rooms ARE dangerous. There is a reason that caution tape hangs outside those rooms. We are weary about letting anyone enter them - even ourselves. We often prefer to leave the doors of our past - the lies, the shame, our sins, the wounds which we've received from others' lack of love towards us in one way or another. It is much too painful and causes too much turmoil and confusion when anyone gets too close to those areas.
But can you hear the sound of footsteps coming down those steps into your heart? "How beatuiful... are the feet of Him who brings good news!" (Isaiah 52:7, a common Advent Scripture) Do you know that He alone can redeem, heal, bless, and make whole again those parts of your life which are "off-limits?" How will you react when Jesus reaches for the doorknob of that first room?
What IS the first room He wants entry to? Is it a memory of some past hurt? Is it a past sin you're terribly ashamed of? Is it some recurring sin of self-importance, lust, anger, greed? Is it a lie which you don't want to admit is a lie?
Where does Christ want to go next in your heart? How will you react when He asks your permission to enter in there?
If you won't let Christ in can you let the Holy Spirit in? He's more "neutral" to some people. Or can you let in the child Jesus rather than the adult Lord? Advent is about welcoming in this Divine Child - God's Son and the Son of Mary - into the dark cave we call our heart and letting His light shine through. "Behold, I make all things new." (Revelation 21:5)
But we have to let Him in first! What is Jesus' next move in your life? What is the Savior wanting to save now?
Listen... He's speaking to you. He comes for you.
-MM
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