What’s the problem…really?
Written by Jarred Rushing
(5 minutes)
Now, the disciples had forgotten to take bread with them, except for one loaf of flatbread. And as they were sailing across the lake, Jesus repeatedly warned them, "Be on your guard against the yeast inside of the Pharisees and the yeast inside of Herod!" (Mark 8:14-15)
As you are lured into the wilderness and intimacy with Abba really begins to be at the center of everything that you do, you begin to inherit a Kingdom perspective, a Kingdom-way of seeing. What you used to see as problems in the past, you don't necessarily see the same way anymore. And what you used to think was important may not seem as important as it once was. This is what happens in the wilderness. Abba begins to redefine everything.
What does that mean?
Well, let me use my own story as an example. Before Abba lured me into the wilderness, I thought that Satan was a major problem. I would see most of the issues in my life as personal attacks of the enemy. Everything that was offensive or challenging to my way of being was really spiritual warfare, a battle, that needed fighting against. And I believed that Satan's main weapon was immoral people that behaved and believed differently than me. So the "real problem" was always that other political party, or that president that I didn't vote for, or that company that was creating movies with un-Christian ideas, or that extremist group with their pervasive, hidden "agenda," or that family member that lived a very different life than mine.
But shortly after entering the wilderness Abba began to redefine what the problem actually was. The problem was always religion. The thing that was really keeping me from encountering the unconditional love and presence of Abba was religion. Satan is still a problem, but he's been defeated and disarmed and the only thing he has ever really owned was an accusing, lying tongue and the biggest lie that he's been telling since the beginning of time is that we are not enough and we need to do something to get closer to God, and that is the message of religion. In the Garden of Eden, it wasn't a left-wing or right-wing politician, a Disney movie, or a flat tire that took Adam and Eve out. It was the lie of religion: if you do _________________, then you'll be like God.
Jesus is repeating himself over and over in the boat with his disciples, telling them what they need to watch out for and be on guard against. The political spirit that would make us believe that we could change the world by being more powerful and in charge, and the spirit of religion that would make us believe that we aren't good enough but we could do something to earn God's love. These are the two things that Jesus felt the need to repeatedly warn his followers about. And that makes total sense, because it was the marriage of that political spirit and that spirit of religion that sent Jesus to the cross. They were both... anti-Christ. And they are both wanting to kill Christ in you.
So, what's the biggest threat to my relationship with Abba and my kid's relationship with Abba?
The lie of religion. The first lie that was ever whispered into humanity's ear: You're not good enough, but if you try harder then maybe you can get closer to God.
How do we deal with the lie of religion?
That's easy. There's only one way to deal with a lie. You let it go. You stop agreeing with it. You stop circulating it. You capture it and put it out of the camp. And then you fully embrace the truth.
Become fascinated with what Abba really thinks about you.
The first lie doesn't define me. The first truth defines me. And the first thing that was ever true about me is that I was deeply loved by Yahweh, and I still am. Before the foundation of the world, Yahweh set His heart on me and called me His beloved child. He took great delight in me before I even existed, before I ever did anything to be worthy of such love. And Abba loves with an unconditional love, which means His love doesn't wait for me to do something right and it does not recoil when I do something wrong. It really is the most perfect love. The stream of His love is always flowing in full force.
As you take a walk with Abba today, let Him tell you the truth about who you are and then repeat those words to yourself over and over throughout the day, like it's the greatest news you've ever heard. Because it is.
Worship: "Preference" by Rachel Morley
Honor: Give online to The Wilderness Place
Share With Us: We would love to hear how you're encountering Abba in your daily walks. Don't hesitate to share what you're hearing, seeing, or sensing in His presence. Email us here!
