Special Interest
Politicians are beholden to special interest groups or individuals who can make it worth their while. So where does that put you with God?
Wouldn’t it be nice, just for a minute, to have the ear of the governor? How about lunch with the mayor? If you called your alderman’s office would the secretary say, “Oh, I’ll put you right through.” You’re probably thinking it would take a miracle, or at least a six figure campaign donation.
Politicians are beholden to special interest groups or individuals who can make it worth their while. Period. So where does that put you with God? Without the name “Lord,” we might wonder, you know. This name of our God we confess when we say, “I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our LORD,” literally means “I AM.” Think about it. God is saying, by his own name, that he is, he exists – independently – of anything or anyone else. In other words, the Lord Jesus Christ doesn’t depend on campaign contributions or a balanced budget or a popular vote or a massive army to do his job. He just is. That’s it.
So, back to the question. Where does that put you with God? Well, ease up, because he’s not waiting with his hand held out for some major contribution. He loves you regardless. He cares for you without your call. He is faithful to you despite your lack of interest. Nothing need convince him to do that, because he just is already that way, “the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished” (Exodus 34:6-7).
Think for a moment how we so strive to be independent some times, when we really need to learn to become more dependent on God. And how we want God to be dependent on us, when we really are blessed when he can independently operate according to his love. He has no special interests except those who seek his strength, his forgiveness, his peace. More on that in the next devotion.
PRAYER: I have many interests, Lord Jesus, that take my devotion from you. They promise me so many things, and I find it hard to look away from their pleasures. Will you teach me to say, “No!”? Could you help me from being so easily distracted? May your special interest in me, as much as I don’t understand it, continue according to your promise ... that my interest in you might never lack again. I do depend on you. You are my Lord. Amen.