I Am Army, West Point

My four year-old grandson Jadon grabbed my army hat, placed it on his head and declared, “I am Army, West Point.”  It was a funny moment and it prompted me later to think about aspiration.  While I would be proud if Jadon was someday accepted into West Point, that is not what my prayer is for him.  

Meditation
1 Samuel 12:20,21—Samuel replied, “Don’t be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don’t turn away from following the LORD.  Instead, worship the LORD with all your heart. Don’t turn away to follow worthless things that can’t profit or deliver you; they are worthless.”
John 7:18—The one who speaks for himself seeks his own glory. But He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
 
What we aspire for says much about us.  Despite the fact that Israel was rescued by God from slavery in Egypt and was led by Him to the Promised Land, Israel lusted to be like the nations that surrounded them.  The majority of their history, as we know it from the Old Testament, was spent chasing after what the prophet Samuel described as worthless.  

Finally, God had enough of watching people rebel against His will, run after pleasure, and bow before hand-made idols.  When He sent His Son Jesus to earth, He gave us a clear picture of what right looks like—and that included aspiration. Jesus’ firm and unyielding yearning was to please His Dad.  By seeking God’s glory, He remained securely motivated to obey heaven and to say no to all of earth’s temptations.

Titles dissolve with time.  Money and possessions are of no help in the grave. Fame is as fleeting as wind-blown dandelions.  Therefore what we chase does matter.  
This is what the LORD says: The wise man must not boast in his wisdom; the strong man must not boast in his strength; the wealthy man must not boast in his wealth.  But the one who boasts should boast in this, that he understands and knows Me—that I am Yahweh, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things.  This is the LORD’s declaration.—Jeremiah 9:23,24
Something to think about . . . in reveration.
 
Inspiration
Answer this: A thousand years from now, will it matter what title the world gave you?  No, but it will make a literal hell of a difference whose child you are.—Max Lucado in The Applause of Heaven
 
©2016 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)