Being like Jesus is an incredible challenge. I pondered it in the wake of the Razorbacks win over Tennessee this past weekend. What does God desire for us? He desires the very best for us. And, He knows that we will receive that very best when we love Him with all our heart, soul and strength and when we love others as we love ourselves.

What does that really mean? I'm not sure I have that all figured out, but one of the things God has been showing me that it means is that we can have no idols in our hearts.

When David cried out to God to search his heart and see if there is any "wicked" or "offensive" way in him, the word has in it the concept of an idol. Any high place or idol in our heart must be torn down. We must have God as the sole object of worship. There can be no distractions from Him. That is the life Jesus led, and it is the life we must lead. We must not let anything intoxicate us, drug us, distract us or capture us except the magnificence of our Father in Heaven.

Why did the Razorback football game get me thinking about this? Good question. As I examined my heart and asked God to do the same He showed me that there was a time when I would let football season be a drug and a distraction. I would watch football games to escape the misery I had in my life. It was an "acceptable" way to keep my mind from thinking about how far I was falling short of the glory of God.

But that was not the sole lesson He wanted me to see. He also showed me how easily I could swing to a different drug of choice: pride. He reminded me of the "spiritual" pride I developed in my first few weeks here at the University of the Nations. You see, the transition into missions support here really did inundate me with a new life and desire for God. And, much of my former life really was forgotten. That first weekend here I not only didn't watch any football (we have no TV anyway), I didn't even remember that college football was happening and had no idea what the Hogs were doing until friends and family from home told me about the game. I was somewhat smugly impressed with myself. And, I found myself drifting from a worship of God and God alone to a desire to promote the religious success I was having.

I so want to love God with everything I have. It is a very difficult pursuit. I see at every turn how easily I let any and everything distract me from the only goal worth pursuing. I pray God will continue to reveal Himself and His desires for my life to me. I am so glad that He promises to give good gifts to His children and that He says that we should simply ask for those good gifts like wisdom and the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Oh Father, please give me wisdom as I desperately seek You and fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank you that I can approach your throne and ask you for these things through the blood of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.