I’m just checking my email. . . again.
Did you see on Facebook that [fill in the blank] is doing [fill in the blank]?
I’m sorry, let me see what this text is about.
I love the convenience of my Iphone. Music wraps me in worship as I walk. It keeps me organized with Evernote. My Kindle app provides me with books that I can read anywhere and at any time.
Pictures or videos can be uploaded instantly to family and friends. Social media has the power to connect me to people I love, and new and old friends. And when I get lost? Google Maps helps me find my way every time.
All of these are positive things. . . except sometimes my Iphone is bigger than Jesus.
What? Suzie, your Iphone isn’t bigger than Jesus. Nothing is bigger than Jesus.
You’re right.
Yet anything that consumes us has the potential to be bigger than the Jesus waiting to be released in us.
Hear my heart, sweet friend. I’m a grace, grace girl through and through. There’s not a legalistic bone in my body. In fact, I run the other way from legalism.
But when I read Luke 5:8, I can see myself instead.
When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.”
Jesus has suddenly become bigger than anything for Simon. Bigger than his plans for the day. Bigger than a fisherman’s exhaustion. Bigger than his knowledge or expertise.
Awe tilted Simon’s worldview and completely changed his faith from that moment forward.
It forged a friendship so deep that Simon vowed that he’d do anything for Him and go anywhere. Simon Peter wasn’t always perfect and sometimes he fell hard as he followed Jesus, but you cannot doubt the relationship between the two.
And there it is.
The word that highlighted that sometimes my Iphone is bigger than Jesus.
Because I have a pretty tight relationship with my Iphone.
If I misplaced or broke it, I’d be lost without it. I check in way too much throughout the day. Sometimes it pulls at me even as I intentionally leave it in my purse as I chat with a friend.
Nothing that insignificant should have that big of a hold on my heart.
Is there anything in your life that is bigger than Jesus?
If the answer is yes, then hear that invitation from Jesus for a deeper and transforming relationship with Him.
So, what’s next?
- Be honest with yourself.
I don’t like it when people lie to me, but we often lie to ourselves. Is there something that is consuming you and it’s not necessarily a healthy consumption?
If so, call it what it is, whether it’s success or another person or Facebook or anger.
It’s not the label that is important, but the invitation to be free that matters here.
- Do something
Isn’t that profound? ♥
Simon wanted to run away when Jesus became bigger, but the invitation from Jesus was to leave the old behind instead.
I love that about Jesus.
What will I do with that invitation? Rather than toss my Iphone in the trash, it’s going to receive a lot less of me. It will take its rightful place as a handy tool. That means that it comes after my time with Jesus, which leads me to the heart of God.
That means that I check it a certain number of times per day, as it loses the pull on me and I give more weight to other things way bigger.
It means that I don’t have to answer every email, every text, every call instantly.
What is your plan?
For your relationship with anger?
Or your relationship with success?
Or your relationship with that person or thing that consumes far more than you originally thought it would?
What is your plan for Facebook?
A big part of that plan is inviting Jesus into the process. Let’s do that right now.
Walk through this with each of us, Father. Others might see this as trivial, but you know better. You don’t desire that anything consume or rob us of what is truly awe inspiring. Thank you for leading us to give this its rightful place in the equation of our lives and relationship with You. In Your powerful name, amen.
Suzie
Q: The word “fear” and “awe” are intertwined in Psalm 33:8. In this passage, fear is a discovery process of the magnitude of God. It’s to truly see God as Creator.
The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him. Psalm 33:8 (NLT)
What do you believe God is trying to create inside of you?
Q: What was your initial reaction to the title of this blog?
Q: Is there anything that consumes you, and you don’t like the hold it has?
Q: Remember, this can’t be a legalistic romp that leads to guilt, but rather an invitation. What is the invitation in this for you?
Thank you to Rebecca Drake of bdrakephotography for permission and use of this beautiful photo.
Thank you Suzie! I just upgraded my “old, dumb phone” to a smart phone right before you came to Roanoke Rapids for the conference! It is a wonderful tool but can be consuming and can interfere with my time with others and my time with Jesus. A while back I put away the computer on the weekends and with this iphone in my back pocket it is creeping back into my weekend time. Thank you for the reminder to keep Jesus my focus and all other things out of my line of vision that my sight may not be blurred!
It’s so easy to do that, right? It’s convenient. Facetime is wonderful. There’s so many helpful apps. : ) But in proportion to life — that’s the balance we try to strike. Love that you are sharing your oh-so-honest thoughts here. : )
Your title caught my attention because I think media “addiction” is such a big problem in our society, and I never thought about allowing those things to be bigger than Jesus in our lives. I want to set aside certain times of the day to check social media, and stick to the plan. I just started on Twitter AND going slow on Pinterest, but I don’t want to let them take up too much time.
Let’s all stand in awe of Jesus, as the above verse says. We need time to do that!
They are such great tools! But it’s when they become more than tools that it moves to unhealthy. Love that you are showing up here, Betsy, to share your thoughts and heart. <3
I’ve still been thinking about this post, Suzie. What in my life is bigger than Jesus? And I realized ONCE AGAIN that ministry can become bigger in our lives than Jesus. We seek to feel fulfilled, needed, look good, sound good through serving God, when it’s really all about loving Him, remaining in Him, and obeying Him.
Oh, this is a timely topic for me, Suzie. And a convicting post. Yes, my iPhone is bigger than Jesus a lot of days and I admit that. I’m struggling to find the balance I need right now. Wanting to build my platform and not belittle my family or my God in the process. So much gets in the way, when I should only be focusing on the One that makes it all possible. Thank you for this great reminder. I know what needs to change, I just need to make it happen. Bless you!
Conviction is a powerful and beautiful thing in our relationships, but especially in our relationship with God. It’s not guilt — a useless emotion, but rather a desire for change illuminated and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Run with it, Meredith, let God do all that He desires in this area of your life. It’s my prayer for myself as well.
Oh, Suzie, how funny I should happen upon this today. While working on a project yesterday, my iPhone kept doing it’s buzz thing…you know, letting me know a text or an email has come in….my 27-year old daughter, who is home visiting, said, “Mom, cut that thing off…if you were working a 9-5, noone would be able to contact you until after work.” Don’t you love it when the children we raise grow up to be so much wiser than us? Thanks, Suzi, for the second reminder in two days!!! I’m cutting it off……Blessings!
Love this post – given me much to reflect on. been struggling lately with things I have put before Jesus. Not even just things – activities, people. been working on establishing boundaries and setting limits. Self-control is not a fruit that I have been nurturing in my soul. It is one I will be focusing on.
Technology is just like many other things – a double-edged sword. It is very convenient and useful, but shouldn’t become our idol! I’ve struggled with it before, playing games on social media. Before the Lenten season began in 2012, God placed upon my heart that playing those games was interfering with my time with Him. I “gave them up” for Lent and have never gone back.
Now I struggle some with letting a troubled relationship consume my thoughts. Lately I have prayed for God to strengthen me to make the decision to look to him whenever I start obsessing over that person and relationship. It’s not easy, but I’m making progress.
Thanks for this message today.
Thank you for this. My worry/anxiety have been bigger than Jesus. I keep giving circumstances to God and then grabbing them back. I am praying that God continues to change my heart 🙂 I am so thankful for God’s mercy, love, and grace!
Vicki
I like two phrases: “Simon wanted to run away when Jesus became bigger, but the invitation from Jesus was to leave the old behind instead” and “Rather than toss my Iphone in the trash, it’s going to receive a lot less of me”. The first one, because I think, for me, it´s about that. About leave my past, my fears behind and instead embrace the future with hope and a new life with Jesus. I think I don’t understand all of that, but I think that`s the way for me.
The second, because that’s the solution: less of me. If I’m worried, I have to try to give less of me and give more to Jesus. Less time, less thoughts… Thanks for sharing all of these… It seems simple, but more important, it’s full of grace and encouragement for us. Thank you and God bless you every single day!