An Undivided Affection For Christ

Affection carries an emotional element with it. We can show affection toward our children with a hug or a kind word. We also can show affection to our pets by giving them treats or taking them out for a walk. Affection can be shown in many different ways depending on the setting, relationship and even culture.

But it's not the emotional element we should be so concern but rather the attachment to the object of our affection.

During my childhood years, I was hungry for attention and approval. Almost anyone who gave me a few moments of their time was enough for me to gravitate and emotionally cling to them. It created a lot of problems for me and the person caught in the cross fire of my often misdirected affections.

These divided affections carried over into my relationship with God. God is very possessive, intimate and jealous. While at times I was drawn by this powerful, all consuming love, I was also very divided. I kept looking over my shoulder and all about me for that one individual - in the flesh - who could see me, talk, walk and touch me - not always the Spirit of God who like the wind seemed more ethereal, invisible and disconnected. But I would learn years later, God is more desirable as a friend, brother, father, lover, and above anything else the human heart could express affection toward.

In John 21:15 Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me more than these," perhaps pointing at the fish on the coals or the fishing boat anchored near the shoreline or toward the other disciples. I could only imagine Peter's eyes falling on the nailed scarred hands and remembering the night he betrayed Him.

Those marks represented a relationship before the cross where he was so full of ideas, passions and natural affections for Christ. Now, everything had changed. This time He truly wanted to love the Lord in a way that would honor Him. Out of Peter's heart, through the brokenness, a pure undivided affection was directed to God, alone.

Often the attachment of our affection to Christ is more ideal than reality. Peter envisioned going all the way with Christ to the cross, but found himself huddled near a fire while Christ was inside going through the trial of His life. We love the idea of walking with Christ but without the risk of failure or dealing with the problems and difficulties of taking on His affections toward us and toward His people. Jesus wanted Peter's affection toward Him to be demonstrated by feeding His sheep.

And that is all God desires - to have our heart and all of its affections - to love Him alone. Let David's cry be our own, "Give me an undivided heart that I might fear you"!