One of the most primal instincts we have is to protect those we love. If they hurt we hurt. If they are in need we want to help. CLICK HERE to view an amazing story of love and protection. God prompted this mother to protect her child.
What is God protecting you from?
In Jesus’ prayer (John 17) he asked God to protect us. I surmise the main thing we need protection from is self.
“The natural person does not accept the things
of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him,
and he is not able to understand them
because they are spiritually discerned.”
1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV
1 Corinthians paints the picture of our struggle. Jesus knew that our propensity to sin, to justify behavior, and to put our needs before his was great. Without God’s loving guidance we would never understand how to live the Christian life. Lets pray that God continues to enlighten us to serve Him, rather than thinking God will serve us. John 17: 9-12 helps us understand Jesus’ desire to protect us.
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9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of our name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
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WHY WE NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM SELF
Our brain struggles with determining reality. For example:
1. When we buy a new car we suddenly see the same car everywhere.
2. When a pregnant woman suddenly notices other pregnant women, she believes there are more babies being born than normal.
3. When society glorifies certain behaviors we begin to embrace them as normal acceptable behavior.
It may not seem like a big deal, but this is one of the main reasons it’s difficult to be a Christian. Here’s why. When we act less than desirably we see others struggling with the same things and begin to justify our behavior as normal rather than, recognizing our inadequacy, confessing it, and embracing God’s love and acceptance. Here’s a quick overview of some of the basics that our brain has a hard time with.
THE STRUGGLE
Nature
The World says, “We are basically good.”
The Word says, “No one is good.”
Identity
The World says, “You’re the center of your universe.”
The World says, “You’re the center of your universe.”
The Word says, “God is the center of your universe.
Needs
The World says, “Take care of yourself.”
The Word says, “Take care of others.”
Rights
The World says, “You deserve the best.”
The Word says, “This world has nothing for you.”
HOW IT WORKS
When we begin to ignore the truths of scriptures by returning to our earthly nature, we begin to justify our behavior and identify with the way the world thinks. If we start focusing on the way the world thinks we’ll begin to believe the world and rewrite scripture to justify our behavior.
Jesus knows the way our mind works. He knows our struggles. There is not one thing that surprises him about the way we think, feel, or act. This is why He prays for our protection. Catastrophic events, violent people, poverty, social injustice, racism, prejudice, wealth, physical health, prosperity, and the like are not things we need protection from. We need protection from our mind and how we chooses to act upon these things. We need protection from self.
HOW TO ACCEPT GOD’S PROTECTION
The best way to learn how to accept God’s protection and live in line with Jesus’ prayer for us is to model our behavior after Jesus. Jesus was invested, protected, and enchanted with God.
INVESTED
Jesus and God are so unified that they act as one being. Jesus desires that we rely on him so heavily that we act as one. Some people will die for a noble purpose, but few will live for one. Jesus died for God’s purposes so that He could live forever, revealing God’s glory. This is the type of investment required to live in Christlikeness.
What could God be asking you to
do that would deepen your
investment in becoming Christlike?
PROTECTED
Protection implies assurance, peace, and trust. Jesus longs that we be protected from our brokenness. He longs that we let go and let God protect. Letting go is not easy. It requires we give up our rights to the most shallow to the deepest thoughts and feelings. God’s words, ways, and future must become more important than our own. If not we will run from his protection.
What could God be asking you
to let go of that would allow
you to be better protected by God?
ENCHANTED
Being enchanted with God’s ways is the equivalent of being crucified with Christ. Our deepest desires, hidden expectations, and every motivation must be filtered through God’s direction. We should be mesmerized, twitter-pated, and love struck with God and his truths to ensure we are allowing ourselves to be protected by God.
What may God be asking
you to embrace that will help
you to fall more in love with Him?
