Fascination

Fascinate: to draw irresistibly the attention or interest of someone. to captivate, charm, or enthral. 

It happens more times than I like to admit: I am sitting in a restaurant having a conversation with friends and my eyes are pulled to the television that is playing some sports game. The allure of the screen: we have all felt its pull. Millions are spent designing things to put on the screen that will attract our attention and hold it there. When sitting in a restaurant talking to a friend and my attention is constantly diverted to the screen, I cannot help but think that I am really saying is that what is on the screen is more worth my attention than they are. What is of highest value should be what captivates our attention.

What is it that fascinates us? What is it the captivates our hearts and our affections? Is it truly worthy of our attention and focus?

We are called to be fascinated with the Lord. We are to be captivated and enthralled with him. This is the heart of the great commandment: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength." In other words, he is to be the one we are to be forever fascinated with. The healthy heart beats with love, passion and desire for Jesus.

Consider what David wrote in Psalm 27:4 (ESV):

"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to inquire in his temple."

David was fascinated with the the Lord. He loved him. His personality and thoughts captivated his heart. His power and glory enthralled his soul. The Lord was the one thing he desired. He knew fascination of deep love for God.

Or consider what Paul wrote in Philippians 3:8 (ESV).

"I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."

Paul was focused on knowing him because he realised that Jesus was deserving of our undivided heart. He was willing to lay aside his possessions and his career in the pursuit of knowing Jesus. The desire to know Jesus had overpowered his life. 

Or consider what Jesus said about Mary to her sister Martha (Luke 10:38-42 ESV). You remember what happened. Jesus and had stopped at their home. Martha busied herself with serving people while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus listening to everything he said. Martha became upset because her sister wasn't helping. Jesus told her:

"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,

but one thing is necessary.

Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." 

Jesus said that Mary had the "one necessary thing." What was it? Mary was fascinated with Jesus. She was enthralled by him. She was endlessly distracted by him. She was rightly captivated by him. After all, Jesus is God.

Anyone with a passing knowledge of the Scriptures knows that we are called to this loving fascination with the Lord. But our hearts are often cold and distracted by other things. We need to bring our cold and lukewarm hearts to him and ask him to warm them. We need to give ourselves to seeking him and throw off everything that distracts us from that goal. If we have met him, we know that he is worthy of all of our attention and affection.

Do you know him? Are you fascinated by him? Is your heart captivated by him?