Wilderness 101: Jesus at the centre

What do wilderness-dwellers need most? Food? Water? Maps? If we said, 'Jesus!', that extra points for us.

The people of Israel had a list of physical needs in the desert, but underlying every need was their need for God. And he knew it. So, in one of his face-to-face chats with Moses, God gives Moses instructions for a 'tent of meeting'. God wants Moses to build a place for God to chat with him, regularly.

Amazing as that is, that closeness is available for us, too. Spending time in church, listening to sermons, hearing powerful testimonies are all great to do. But not one of those 'second-hand' stories can replace the first-hand experience of spending time with Jesus ourselves. James writes, 'Draw near to God and he will draw near to you' (James 4:8 NKJV). He wants a relationship. He wants us to get to know him.

Also, that tent of meeting was to be in the middle of the camp. God didn't want to be at the side of his people, and he doesn't want to be an aside in our life. His presence was the core of his people, and all parts of the camp saw and felt his presence at the centre. With Jesus in the centre, no problem seems anywhere near as daunting.



So what now? Put your Bible in the middle of the table. Around it, arrange the other important things in your life (phone, photos of friends, study books, work, etc.). Take a photo of your life, with Jesus at the centre. Is it accurate?





— SCRIPTURE —

'Submit to God, and you will have peace.' Job 22:21 NLT
— SOULFOOD —

1 Ki 21-22, Luke 12:49-59, Ps 70, Pro 6:26-28