Captain Jack Sparrow, from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, has a unique compass that is one of his most prized possessions. At various points in the stories, he loses this compass. It immediately puts him out of sorts as he plots and schemes to get it back.
The compass is special and unique because it doesn’t point to magnetic North. Instead, this cherished compass points in the direction of the most desired object in the heart of the one who holds the compass. It points the way to what they want most.
Where would Captain Jack’s compass point if you held it in your hand?
It’s a fair question, right? What do you want most and how will you take a small step towards this desire today?
It’s even a faithful question. Or, at least it can be.
One of the challenges of using our deepest desires to guide our ways is our desires are not pure. They can be manipulated. They, just like our actions, words, and thoughts, are subject to the disease of our sinful rebellion.
The reality is, we live in a world that is obsessed with doing what you want, chasing after what you want, even demanding your wants to be embraced by others.
The reality is this: We need to put a filter between us and Captain Jack’s compass. In other words, how do the desires of our heart align or misalign with the Holy Scriptures?
As I shared last Sunday, I’m really good at finding ways to justify my actions. For the things I do and things I don’t want to do. In other words, I’m good at justifying why the desires of my heart are worthwhile.
Newsflash, not all the desires of my heart are worthwhile. Not all the desires of your heart are worthwhile.
This is one of the reasons we lift up scripture readings as a vital element of our discipleship. At the end of the day, a disciple longs to pursue the greatest desire of God’s heart.
This is all summed up by John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
As we continue forward this summer, I encourage you to make this your prayer each morning. Collectively, May we decrease and the power and work and desire of Jesus increase in us all!
