One Desire: A Love for JesusSample

Day 1 - Found In Jesus

In his new book, “Practicing The Way: Be With Jesus. Become Like Him. Do As He Did” from John Mark Comer - he begins with a work called “Dust” in which he poses the question “Do you ever feel that nagging “thought” tug at the back of your mind: Is the life I’m living the life I most deeply desire? Is this it?” (xi).

Desires are tricky. They can be both beautiful and harmful. In the ancient Hebrew world, emotions and desires were usually expressed via physical actions. This is why the most popular word for desire is usually translated as “longing” or “clinging to”. In the Greco-Roman world, desires were something to be controlled - even dangerous if left unchecked.

We may desire a million dollars. We may desire to be like Jesus. We may desire breakfast for dinner. We may desire to be a parent - either currently or someday. We may desire to be part of a smaller church or a larger church.

There are lots of things that we can find ourselves desiring. Yet, not all desires will be answered immediately if at all.

In the song “One Desire” - Sound Chapel approaches desire from a different side of things. They begin the song with the line “All that I want and all that I need. I’ve found in Jesus, I’ve found in Jesus.” And honestly - that’s a bold statement for our human hearts. Jesus does not often feel like enough, especially when we are in the midst of struggle or exhaustion.

In 1 John 2:17 - John writes, “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever”. Before this, starting in verse 12, John outlines why he is writing to this audience. His focus is on sharing the “Good News” of Christ and encouraging them of their hope in Christ.

1 John was written specifically to address churches in Asia Minor (modern day area of Turkey). These churches struggled with many of the same things that we have: disappointment, false teachers, deep sin, exhaustion, persecution, fear, and frustration. And yet, John is encouraging them to do the will of Jesus anyway instead of following the desires of the world.

It reminds us of another scripture in Romans 12:2, “Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

Renewing our minds to focus on Christ’s desires over our own or the culture’s around us is so, so hard. And yet - it is the best decision that we could ever make!

Take a moment today to just pause, listen to “One Desire” by Sound Chapel, and reflect on this question: In what way am I desiring the world’s way over the Lord’s way? What can I do to start to repent of this today?

Go in peace friends, go in peace!