the Power of One
Everyone seems to understand the power of numbers. Somehow, the power of one person is lost on us more easily.
God is the God who created the whole universe, uncountable billions of galaxies with trillions of stars. He’s definitely into big and boundless. But the “big things” that impress us humans are so impossibly small to Him, He’s not actually that impressed. Do you think the Creator of all things is more impressed if you have 10 or 10 million followers on Instagram? Or if you preached to 5 people Sunday or 500,000? God’s not that impressed with such things.
However, there is one thing that impresses God. Something that gets his attention.
Isaiah 66:1-2 says: “Heaven is My throne and earth is my footstool…Where is the place of my rest? For all those things My hand has made…But on this ONE will I look. On Him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at My word.”
One person of a humble and contrite spirit, who has the fear of God, who trembles to obey Him, this person has God’s attention and favor. This person attracts the gaze of God! One of the great saints of the middle ages, Catherine of Sienna, understood this well. She articulated it this way: “When I look at God, He looks me—when I think of Him, He thinks of me.” Said another way, “Draw near to Me, and I [God] will draw near to you.”
Are you ready for God to look on you?
This 10 Days, we want to invite you to be that “One” who steps into God’s loving, terrible, beautiful, fiery gaze. It’s an invitation to the place of greatest significance and influence in the universe. If you have God’s attention, love, and have influence before His throne, how much greater is that than all riches, fame, honor, and human attention? It’s also a frightening proposition to come face-to-face with the Creator of all. And yet, the invitation stands before you.
During 10 Days, we invite people to do four activities that can help position us in that Isaiah 66:2 posture of humility. We call this invitation the “Consecration Challenge”.
Take vacation time from work and your normal schedule
Devote yourself to prayer and worship with other believers
Fast from food at some level
Fast from Entertainment and Social Media
This is all about turning ourselves away from our normal pursuits and positioning ourselves to be “The One” who draws the attention of our Creator. It’s not a magic formula, it’s simply agreeing with what God has said, “This is the one I will look on.”
I believe this September 6-16th, God is not going to be paying attention to Presidents and Kings. He’s not going to be worried about wars, shakings, or a global pandemic. He’s not even going to be impressed with how big or well executed our gatherings are. His eye is going to be searching the earth, looking for hearts that are completely His. His attention is going to be riveted not on the masses, but on the one who is poor and contrite in heart, and who trembles at His word.
Will you be The One who draws His gaze?
Yours,
Jonathan Friz