The Big Empty Chair

The big chair is comfy, but empty
waiting for me to sit there
beside You

You have being waiting

for me

for hours, days, weeks,

and even years

Waiting for me to see
how much You love me
Collecting all
my tears in Your bottle
Are they all not in
Your book?
(Psalm 56:8)

We cuddle together
in the comfy chair
I rest between
Your shoulders (Deut. 33:12)

How can I know someone?  The answer is simple: by spending time with him or her; by involving this friend in all aspects of my life. I know God in the same way.   I can hear of someone's adventures with this special person, but it is all second-hand-  all the information I have about a special friend comes from sources outside of me. In the same way, another believer's testimony of Jesus working in her life, her Bible study, or worship, can never take the place of my own. I would never try to live vicariously through another's relationship in the natural. So why do I do that in the spiritual? Why do I think hearing the preacher, letting the worship team sing, or reading someone's else inductive Bible study will take the place of my own intimate seeking of Christ?

Would we marry someone we did not know intimately, first-hand? Would seeing a picture, hearing the beloved's voice on CD or DVD, or only experiencing him/her through a social-network suffice? Really?   Having just a social-network relationship can only be superficial at best: how many intimate and personal things do we place on such sites? In the same way, coming to church and experiencing Christ only in the context of a crowd can be shallow.  I need one-on-one time with my Beloved. I need to look in His eyes to really know Him and see myself reflected back in truth.

We all know those folks who feel love is limited to one's birthday and Valentines- showy and somehow just a bit fake because it lacks real substance. Yet, am I like the lover who pours out affection on my Beloved only on Easter and Christmas?   Real love is first sacrificial, patient, kind, gentle, full of good fruit, does not boast, keeps no record of wrongs, not easily offended- that stuff  (I Corinthians 13).

My step-father has a saying, "Let your walk catch up with your talk."   There is a place for prophecy, but let's not forget the present reality. Yes, "He who began a good work in [me] will carry it on the completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil.1:6). Yet, I must address the reality of my present relationship with Christ and move toward where Jesus wants me to be. Sometimes, we go stuck on a prophecy and forget the in-between- the literal working out of our salvation (Philippians 2:12-16).

How serious am I?  Have I left my first love? I am lukewarm only fit to be spit out of  Jesus' mouth (Revelations 3:15-16). I need to focus on adoration and not only service. That's the rub. The Martha syndrome- balancing Mary and Martha takes work. So before I get up to wipe noses or clean feet, to feed the hungry, I find the empty chair and sit with my Beloved.


Signing off,
M.J.