Pursuing Affection for God

I was listening to a sermon the other day by Matt Chandler (Lead/Teaching Pastor at The Village Church in Dallas, Texas), in which he briefly discussed the things in life that stir his affections for God. This immediately caught my attention. The reason for this was because this ideology, being our affections for God, pierces through the superficiality that plagues our culture.
Knowing God brings such a depth to life and reality that I cannot help but to pursue the things that emulate that depth and allow me to taste all the more this massive, universe-creating, all-loving, and yet mysterious God.

As I pondered this idea and sought to examine my own life, Psalm 119 came to mind. Having read this very long Psalm (the longest in the Bible actually) not long ago, I remembered the heart of the Psalmist. He got this! He experienced so purely his affections being stirred for the Lord. And he wrote:
“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes…” *vv. 15-16a. (ESV)
“Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.” *v. 24.
“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in Your ways.” *v. 37.
“…for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.” *vv. 47-48.
“The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” *v. 72.
“My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in Your word.” *v. 81.
“Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.” *v. 111.
“My eyes long for Your salvation and for the fulfillment of Your righteous promise.” *v. 123.
“I open my mouth and pant, because I long for Your commandments.” *v. 131.
“Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your words. I rejoice at Your word like one who finds great spoil.” *vv. 161-162.
“My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly.” *v. 167.

The psalmist continually is diving into, meditating on and delighting in the good things of God. They are the things that lead the poet into communion with the Lord. They are things that point to God! These things reach down into the innermost parts of ourselves and by the power of the Holy Spirit draw us into the presence of God.
The things of God that are good and beautiful and right and stir our affections for Him are not meant to be in themselves our delight and satisfaction, but rather a catalyst to launch our souls into deep communion with and delight in our Lord. It is God displaying His glory in such a way that captivates us, His children, and draws us to Himself. This is key - not that we find joy in the comfort of things (or as Romans 1:23 & 25 puts it: “images” & “created things”), rather they are a means by which we experience the glory and joy of Jesus Christ.

I think this was one of the purposes in God’s creation and displayed His glory in the created - that the created things might be screaming billboard signs saying, “LOOK AT JESUS! Look how GLORIOUS and MAJESTIC and WORTHY He is!” (Psalm 19). They are things God has given us to invite us into the deeper treasure that it is knowing God. (Matt. 13:44). There is something about sitting outside in the crisp autumn air, drinking hot apple cider and seeing the leaves and the brilliant colors they display that reaches deep into my soul and pulls me into something more. I think I desire more than anything to commune with Jesus…to be in my Maker’s presence and taste His goodness.

However, there is a line here. There’s a line that invites me to cross into idolatry - to pursue things other than Jesus Christ, and to make them “ultimate.” To make them the end rather than the glory of God. The reason this gets messy and sinful is because most often times these things (whatever stirs our affections for the Lord) are GOOD THINGS! They are things that God created and said that “it is good.” (Gen. 1).
So as I have pondered these thoughts the last few days, some things have come to mind that stir my affections for Jesus. But I know the nature of myself as well. I know my bent towards wanting to take these good things, and make them god things. So I search my own heart in this as well. I search my motives and my desires and look to see what is holding my joy. And as I walk toward the glorious pictures of God’s goodness and glory, I feel close to my Creator.

So what are some of these things for me? What are the things that I have now come to pursue in hope that I would find Jesus at the end of them all? Here’s some that come to mind:
Taking the time to experience nature. Breathing in the autumn aroma as the presence of God draws me to gratitude, awe, wonder, and to worship.
Sitting outside during a beautiful sunset or a starry sky while puffing on a vintage tobacco pipe sends me into deep meditations of the bigness of God and what He’s like. The stillness, that can so haunt the postmodern, technological being, I find to be unbelievably rich and valuable.
Spending hours over coffee (or hot tea) with a friend talking about the grace and love of Jesus Christ and His healing and redeeming work on the cross!
Opening up the scriptures and soaking in the gift God wants us to live off of (Matt. 4:4).
Meditating on the truth that I am the Bride of Christ!!! Pure, holy, blameless and righteous I stand before the throne of my King Jesus Christ.
Being able to Shepherd and care for young believers, and walk with them, love them, struggle with them and point them to Jesus (though this is extremely hard, and one learns very quickly that these youngsters are Lord’s FIRST, His children, and that God will entrust us with them, and just as quickly take them from our grip.)

Lastly, the creation of music plunges my soul into some of the deepest places of personally knowing God and what He’s like. To come confidently before the throne of Grace (Heb. 4:16), and worship the living God who loves me and gave Himself for me. I don’t even have to sing…sometimes I just play my guitar, sometimes I just listen, sometimes I just meditate, but there is depth here for me. My affections are stirred for God by His creation of music. Praise God for Anberlin :)

Not everyone’s affections will be stirred for God by these specific things, but for us to ignore the goodness in the things God has given us leaves us missing out on creation…missing out on knowing God more fully. I must be mindful and cautious of our culture’s deceit in the pursuit of these good things. If they become my God, if they hold my joy, if my affections start to seek those things as ultimate then I am guilty of sin - and as the book of Hosea would say, that I have whored myself out to other gods, other idols and left my bridegroom, Jesus Christ. We should fill our lives with the things that stir our affections for Jesus, and run as fast as we can away from the things that rob us of affections for Jesus! But Jesus must remain the prize. He must remain the precious pearl and the treasure in the field. O God help us.

Grace and Peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
To Him be the Glory and Honor and Power FOREVER!