Pastors pen: Captivated with Christ

When we use the words captive or captivated, we can think in negative terms of those things that ensnare us and bring us into bondage, or we can even simply be thinking of being held against our will. But we can be a captive in a positive sense as well. In Proverbs the topic of marital faithfulness is addressed with these wise words: “May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer- may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man’s wife?” (Proverbs 5:18-20)

In the verses quoted we see both a negative and a positive captivation on offer. But in reality as individuals we all have the choice to which situation we surrender ourselves to be taken captive. The two options in the verses are: 1. Surrender yourself and be taken captive by the loving embrace of your partner in pure and holy matrimony; or 2. Surrender yourself to be captivated by sensual desire that is marked by sinful breaking of covenant relationship.

While this principle is always applicable to the marriage bed and keeping ourselves pure in this way, there is further application as we consider what’s captivating our hearts in other areas? The reality is the love of God for us is so pure and holy, with the promise and hope of eternal blessings flowing out of our relationship with him, yet so often we are more captivated with the deceptions that the enemy is offering us than being captivated with the One who’s only agenda is to love us and make our lives complete.

The list of areas that Satan wants to captivate us with is huge, with material possessions, sexual fantasy and even prideful clamouring for position just to name a few. But often we don’t see that the enemy wants to captivate our hearts with fear, a deception that strikes at the very heart of faith. Whether it be our ability to provide for our family, our ability to do the task God has called us to do, or even the possibility that we could be deceived by someone in authority, all these scenarios can captivate our hearts with fear. This fear stands in the way our heart being captivated with the love God has for me, just as adultery stands in the way of a pure relationship with one’s wife. But in all these instances, and any others you may come up with, being captivated with Christ, and the love of God for me, will liberate me from every agenda of the devil to captivate me with fear.