I MISS THE WAY. . . .

Years ago Michael W Smith came out with a song titled, "I Miss The Way."  It was a song written to somebody who walked away from the Lord and started living life for themselves. 

I Miss the Way YouTube Link

Here is the verse:

Once a true believer
Once there was a fire in your soul
You were the epitome of blessed faith astir
With thirst for holiness
And hunger for the Word
Now you move in other circles
To the beat of different drums
And I see only glimpses of the one you used to be
The inspiration that you were to me

I spent a lot of time tonight praying for friends that aren't currently serving God. 

I am going to share something with you that is important and hopefully God will use it to remind you how much He loves you.  READY -- Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus did not start out as a betrayer!

Luke 6:12-16 "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.  When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:  Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor."

Think about it, Judas saw everything all the other Apostles saw.  The blind eyes opening, the lepers made whole, the dead raised, the sea made calm, the feeding of the multitudes, etc.  He heard the same teaching and saw the kindness of Jesus towards sinners.  Yet, for some reason he still became a traitor. 

Why?  While Peter, James and John and the other apostles where getting to know Jesus, Judas was in the background stealing money and making plans on how to betray Jesus for more money.  Judas never got to know Jesus as an intimate friend.   Jesus was just a way for him to make money.

Friends please listen.  Your life is where it is because of one thing.  At some point you lost intimacy with the father.  At some point you stopped getting to know Him and allowed other things to come and draw away your affections.  I know this world has so many distractions, but I also know NOTHING compares to being in that place where you hear the heartbeat of God.

Unfortunately, I can't force you spend time with Him, your godly parents (as hard as they may try) can't give you this intimacy through osmosis.  Even going to church or having grown up in church doesn't give you intimacy.  Only you can make the choice.  Being married and living in the same house doesn't mean that I know my wife's most intimate thoughts and desires.  Those are discovered by time together communicating, listening, loving, etc.

If you do "draw near to Him, He'll draw near to you."  If you seek Him you will find Him, When you seek for Him with all your heart.  Don't worry, He's just waiting to lavish you with His love. 

Jesus never stopped loving Judas.  Till the end He called him friend.  It doesn't matter how far you may feel like you have fallen He's there waiting to show you His love.

I am going to end with the chorus of  "I Miss The Way."

I miss the way His love would dance within your eyes
I miss the way His heart was the soul of your life
And somewhere in the saddest part of heaven's room
Our Father sheds a tear for you
He's missing you, too