Are You Drifting Or Dwelling- A Maundy Thursday Meditation

“Maundy Thursday is not just a day but a reminder of our covenant with God, sealed by His love and sacrifice.” C.S. Lewis

This morning is a yellow morning in the south. The pollen permeates the air, the sneezes are extra strong and nature is waking up in all its glory to show the splendor of Spring. A few weeks ago I shared that our beloved family dog passed away. It has really been hard not hearing her tippy taps and giving her snuggles. We were given a corgi a few weeks ago, she’s tiny and thinks she is a great big dog. She also likes to walk a lot. She doesn’t really walk fast, she just takes in the world around her. Sometimes she stops and rolls in the grass, stares at the sky and almost looks contemplative. Our little corgi named Queen Mildred the Magnificent Corgi has caused a very good habit in my life. Her walks have given me pause to dwell on walking with God. 

Am I drifting or dwelling? 

To dwell is to exist or have residence in a certain place. To drift is the act of driving something along, the force or velocity of the current of a river or ocean. Is my heart’s home dwelling in God or drifting to and fro from God? James 4:8 tells us to draw near to God, and He will come near to you. Wash your hands you sinners, and purify your hearts you double-minded ones. We can surmise that James is blunt and to the point concerning this direction. He doesn’t mince words. To dwell in a place takes intention. To drift is to be subject to the whims and veracity of the current. You might come to port and take a few moments on dry land with God but you are in no way dwelling there. The current of our culture is not to draw near to God, it is quite the opposite. It seems as if our culture draws near to emotion rather than the peace of God. Our nature as humans is not to draw near to God, the Bible tells us often that we are drawn to the pull of the flesh rather than the pull of the spirit. 

What does this have to do with Maundy Thursday?

Jesus intentionally made the walk to the cross so that we can draw near to God. He could have called a host of angels to save him yet He chose to stay on the cross. He was insulted, pierced, beaten beyond recognition for us. The punishment of the world was on Him for our sins, for every single person that has lived and will ever live. Our minds cannot fathom the weight of that sacrifice. When He died He went to hell in our place. He rose on the third day and now sits at the right hand of the Father. His still small voice says to come to Jesus and truly live. 

How do I dwell in Him?

• Make a decision to take some time each day to spend with God. You might say, “But I don’t know how to do that! I am no minister or scholar.” Simply start by saying a prayer and reading scripture. There are many devotionals online that can be of great help. Crosswalk immediately comes to mind. Think about it, if you can spend time on your phone researching obscure topics on Wikipedia you can certainly search for understanding of the scripture. The same goes for scrolling on Instagram, etc.. some of that time can be used to draw near to Him. 
• Dwell with intention. If you are overwhelmed, pray to Him. If you are in fear, draw near to Him. If you need comfort, He will be your comforter. The key to dwelling with God is familiarizing yourself with His words and making them a part of you. 

Take a Daily Walk with Him

• Live a life of thankfulness. Oftentimes our default mode is to see the darkness of life because we are drifting down the current of life. Even if a boat is parked on a dock it still moves about a great deal. Jesus is the cornerstone that keeps us in place. Dwelling in him will give us a path to a thankful spirit. 
• We will fall, but He loves us. Just keep getting up and choosing Him. I once heard a pastor say that conviction is from the Holy Spirit. Condemnation is from the Devil. For some reason that stuck with me. Conviction is: “Perhaps I should have said that with a bit more kindness.” Condemnation is a very strong disapproval. You are not worthy, nothing you do is of any value. The scripture tells us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

As Jesus walked down the Via Dolorosa (I’ve linked an arrangement that I played last year here) , the way of suffering on Maundy Thursday, you were on His mind. On this day, our challenge is to bring our minds to Him on a daily basis. Make Him your habit by dwelling in His word. Don’t let the river of life pull you away with its strong current, make your home in him.