“Make Room” . . . for Everything Else

There’s a popular phrase right now . . . I heard it again this morning, “God, I will make room for you;” “let’s make room for God.” Every time I hear it, it disturbs me.
Now, let me first admit that this may just be a matter of semantics, but if I’m interpreting it this way, at least some others are as well. For those of us in positions of leadership or influence, it may convey the wrong message.
What was Moses commanded to tell God’s chosen people? “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with ALL your heart, with ALL your soul, and with ALL your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.” (Deut 6:4-6 CSB) Over and over again, the thing Israel got into trouble with God about was putting other gods before Him. What is a false god? Anything that controls our time, resources and attention.
Jesus reiterated this concept with the early Church when challenged by the religious leaders: “He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, with ALL your soul, and with ALL your mind. This is the greatest and most important command.” (Matt 22:37-38 CSB)
Now this phrase . . . when I think of making room for something, I think of my book shelf and getting a new book and I need to figure out a way to rearrange things to make room for the new book -but it’s just enough space to squeeze it in there. Or maybe my schedule, when I want to “make room” for getting Theo into the vet for his vaccine – I may move some things around to make a space for the appointment. That’s fine for books, other physical things or our calendars, but that is not the expectation of our Father God.
Our relationship with God is like the priceless piece of art that we’ve been searching for, for a decade and finally find it. We bring it home and, mindless of what may be there, push everything off the table and give it that place of honor right there as the center of focus!
Of course, the metaphor breaks down after that, because God is not an inanimate piece of art, but rather, a transcendent Being who desires intimate, personal engagement with us daily and fully, our hope and life, His kingdom our mission and reason for living, and as we respond in this fashion, He will turn our world upside down in ways we never imagined!
He wants all of us and then as we give ourselves up to Him, He will help us “make room” for other things in a life that will have more purpose and meaning than we’ve ever known.