This morning I accidentally came across this 6:33 minute video that stopped in my tracks in many ways than I can express in this article. As I reflected on it, I was led to put my thoughts and reflections in words, firstly, for myself, but also for you that may be reading this whenever you come across it.
In this video, John Lennox shares final words of wisdom for his family and audience, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing one's relationship with God over digital distractions. Watch it below.
Earlier I mentioned, that I came across this accidentally, but I don't think it was an accident at all. I believe that this is another of the many attempts the Holy Spirit has used to point me to scripture and my need for it than I can fathom. John says that these are not words he would leave to just his children, but everyone and I know that this message was specifically for me.
As someone who spends a large percentage of my week working, I acknowledge my shortfall in spending time in God's word and allowing that to shape my relationship with Him. Not that working or the work I specifically do is wrong in itself or that it doesn't glorify God, It's more about the fact that even while I do God-honoring work, it's very easy to miss the mark by not spending enough time with God. I know I am guilty of this.
Like you who may be reading this, this is not the first time and most likely wont be the last time I have heard someone point to how we chase everything else and neglect the very thing that sustains life (God's word), but this for me has hit harder in many ways because even while I have been prompted and reminded by the Holy Spirit many times, I have still fallen short. There is a lot to reflect on, but here are some reflections that I thought I could share.
Spiritual Leadership
He emphasizes that making an impact in the world as a Christian requires more than a five-minute daily Bible reading. Now, I can argue that whether 5 minutes, 5 hours or 5 years, a Christian can still have impact because God is not confined to time as we know it, and I am sure John would argue the same if pushed back, but the point is not necessarily in the time, it's more about the reality that the things we value the most we give the most attention. So how much time and how intentional we are in spending time reading and studying the word points to our priorities.
The one that stayed with most though, is his call for husbands to pray with their wives and lead their families spiritually and the note on how strong family relationships must be "triangular," including Jesus Christ. As a husband who has especially struggled and is on a journey of growth in leading my family spiritually, this has really stayed with me. The illustration of a "triangular" relationship is the one that puts Jesus as the top and the wife and husband at the other ends of the triangle as the wife and husband get closer to Jesus by studying His word, they in turn get closer to each. This is a lesson, by God grace I continue to try and put into practice.
Seek God First
As you will notice, the Video is exactly 6 minutes and 33 seconds, not that there is any mystery in the duration of the video, but as I looked at that time, the Holy Spirit instantly drew me to Matthew 6:33 - 'But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. '
The word of God is given to us to make eternal things real, and we need to spend time immersed in it, perfectly reading it, with other people and alone.
John highlights the necessity of pouring over God's Word prayerfully and studying it with others and alone to truly understand it and have something valuable to say to others. The order of his words also caught my attention. He alludes to the fact for us to have something to say, which can also be translated as being successful. For us to have any sort of success, especially lasting success, we need to seek Him first and we do that by spending time in His word. Then everything else will be added unto us.
Citing C.S. Lewis, Lennox reminds viewers that the New Testament is filled with an expectation of eternity, and that true transformation comes from making God real through His Word, rather than just following the endless pursuit of life's demands.
In the end, unless God is real through His word, we are missing the central fellowship that He offers us.
The true path to eternity is Christ himself (John 14:6) and we need to intentionally pursue a relationship with Him by studying His word. So, will you spend time communing with God through His word? Not just as an after-thought, but intentionally.
