Not Interested In Blessings

The blessings of God are wonderful, but it's surprising how many Saints and fathers of the faith were unimpressed with blessings when God's presence was not with them.

My friend Alex reminded me of this video of Dr. David Martin Lloyd-Jones preaching from his sermon "How Revival Comes," which was a part of a larger series that ended up being published in book form. He's speaking from Exodus 33 where the Israelites refuse to move on without God's presence, even when he offers them success and material well-being. In his sermon, "The Doctor" as Lloyd-Jones was called, separates the blessings of God from God himself:

"What is the value of Canaan? What is the value of milk and honey? What is the value of having possessions, if God was not with them? They saw that the realisation of the presence of God, having his fellowship and company, was infinitely more important than everything else."
-Dr. David Martin Lloyd-Jones, Revival, p. 158.

The Doctor quotes two key verses and could have quoted a hundred more:

"It is for thee I cry out. As the deer pants for water, so my soul pants after thee, O God." says the songwriter of Psalm 42:1.

St. Paul begs: "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings."

Blessings are not enough for these men, it is God they desire. In fact, they welcome any type of circumstance or state of being as long as they get God and God alone. Perhaps we are not connecting with God because we're so attached to his blessings.

When you enjoy these blessings, you're on to something so keep enjoying what he gives, just make sure you don't end there because above them lies the Greatest Blessing you could experience: Him.