Maybe I'm a little slow, but I don't think I realized that Galatians 4:10 was referring to the Feast of Tabernacles, Day of Atonement, Passover, etc, before. All the important feast days that were held that pointed to the cross & were nailed to the cross & done away with. Shown by the veil being torn in to when Christ died.
All those things were what made me glad that I wasn't alive back then to have to do them. The drudgery of it all or being enslaved to them as Paul is pointing out to the Galatians here. The context is very clear that the Mosaic law is what Paul is talking about. I just never put it together for that verse.
It must have been hard to break tradition so to speak & not do those feasts & observe those days. The Jews who didn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah kept trying to get people to do all the things Moses had them do before. Makes a lot more sense to me now.
I was also caught by the wording in the NLT of 6:14. We usually hear about how we need to lose interest in the world & focus on Christ & what He wants us to do. This is true but the rest of the verse says that the world also has lost interest in Paul. Hmmm, that could have been a hard ego hit. They were courting him to probably be the next high priest at one point. So I shouldn't be alarmed when all of a sudden, the world loses interest in me & my abilities because it means that I'm not aligned with them & their agenda anymore. I'm of interest to God though, He's especially fond of me. :D And that should be enough.
I'm done with reading the Moses books on Mondays. So I'm reading in John right now. Reading about how Jesus interacted with people, how He ministered to them. Gives me insights into how He interacts with me. He wants me to grow & think & develop.
Started with Nicodemus & the woman at the well. Nic puts Jesus' comments into the context of what he knows & understands, something we all do. Of course, Jesus' comments don't fit in that context, so we struggle to understand them & get a bit exasperated because they seem too impossible to happen. Being born again when you're old? Not happening!
The Samaritan woman does the same thing with the well & water. Wow, we are so slow to open our minds to new ideas & understand the power that He has. And we get impatient when people don't catch on after the 1st time & He's been dealing with the same mindset for hundreds of years!
I also see Jesus not getting frustrated when He has to move to a different area for ministry. He simply trusts His Father & doesn't get upset at the petty quarrel of who is baptizing more (John 4:1). He doesn't plow thru the barrier, but leaves to a different area.
He understands that it's good for Him to move about & talk with different people. This world isn't His home so He's not worried about settling down in one place & getting comfortable. He's focused on His mission. Our mission may be different & require us to stay in one place longer than He did, but where is our focus, His mission or our comfort? I know I look for the easy way every time.
I wonder how many people I've missed that He has wanted me to talk to just because I was looking out for myself instead of letting Him provide for me. Stressing vs trusting.
Just so much in these 2 encounters. I get something new every time I go through them.
Really good thoughts Chris -- I went back and read it twice; once fast -- and once slow. I miss his deeper meaning all the time; I am still working on thinking deeper - - my thoughts seem so shallow; a lifetime work for me.
I also appreciated the view of Jesus not getting trapped in becoming upset of the quarrel - - so very very easy for me to do - - He just rested in His Father's plan for His life.
Good thoughts Chris -- I really appreciated you pulling those ideas out of John!! I'll plow through Moses, who knows -- maybe there's something!!
Moses struggles with God -- kindof reminds me of the physical struggling that Jacob did. When God demands that Moses "Get going" without Me -- Moses has only one request (34:8) travel with us.
Moses = humility. He knew where his strength, wisdom, & cunning had come from. He wasn't overconfident in his leadership, he found his confidence in the presence and leading of God.
In one spot it said that the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. I'm thinking that God must have veiled His face in light of the later encounter where God unveils as much of His glory as Moses can handle.
Hey -- interesting that Joshua would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting. I wonder what went on for him? Obviously God was grooming him for future leadership - - did he also have encounters with God at the tent? and where is my tent of meeting? Where do I encounter God?
I had an awe-time this morning thinking of how holy and majestic it must have been to see some of God's glory -- the hear His voice talk about the parts of His character that were precious to Him: compassion, mercy, patience, love, faithfulness, forgiveness, accountability.
I KNOW I take my God for granted; cheapening time with Him into a buddy time -- He IS my Buddy, my Friend -- but so much more. Look at Moses response: "Moses immediately threw himself to the ground, and worshiped"
A reminder from last week's sermon in 34:28 that the 10 commandments are the only words we have that were written by God Himself.
It almost sounds in 34:34 that Moses glowing face was permanent. That he went through the rest of his leadership veiling and unveiling his face - interesting; a physical sign of His connection with God.
It IS pretty cool that God can implant wisdom, ability, and expertise into people (35:31) and I love how the people over-gave. We always focus on the negative with the Israelites -- but here's a time where they came through big; giving of their stuff whole-heartedly:)
While I was reading Solomon's prayer of dedication, I included myself in it most of the time. I want to have an undivided heart in serving God. My focus solely on Him. Trusting & depending, listening & learning. Not running off in my own strength, creating battles that I was never intended to fight.
God's glory backed the priests out of the temple again. He impresses upon us over and over again that He cannot be contained, but He condescends to dwell with us, to be a visible God in our lives. We just don't get it. We go from one extreme, a showy worship to another - too familiar, as you say Linda, a buddy time. Cheapening His power & the awe He deserves.
I like seeing Moses' response too. He was so close to God & yet, in His direct Presence, He realized how small he really was & worshiped His Creator with reverence.
I just need to keep in mind that I am the clay & I will always be the clay. He will always be the Potter. I don't want to get stiff & hard, just be teachable & pliable in His capable hands.
Can you imagine taking a peek into the Most Holy place and seeing those angels 15 feet high, covered in gold and surrounding the ark? Awesome! I wonder what happened to Aaron's rod and the pot of manna that was in the ark for awhile? (8:9)
I think it'd be neat also, to watch the temple come together without the sound of tools - - something about the peace in that creation.
Since Solomon was the wisest -- I view him as very actively involved in the architecture and the construction -- the head guy, all major questions going to him.
I also liked it that Solomon built God's house before his own (at least it sounds like that's what he did) I wonder how Pharaough's daughter became his first wife -- sounds political to me (and that, in my view, is not wise - - but, that's just my opinion!)
It also sounds like Solomon was a judge, not just a king (7:7)
Huram was the modern day Bazaliel!
I was wondering about Solomon's prayer where he said he'd built a temple for God, a place where God could live forever (8:13) thinking how that was kindof putting limits on God. But, Solomon said it better in 8:27 "But will God really live on earth? Whey even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!"
Solomon's prayer request was for God to hear. A lot of "If this happens, and people turn back to you -- then hear"
8:41 sounds like a prelude to the Queen of Sheba!
King Hiram of Tyre sure shows up a lot - must have been a personal friend (only Hiram didn't really like all of Sol's gifts!)
Here are the two take-aways for me today:
8:58 "May He give us the desire to do His will" I think that's what I need -- the desire; I want his will to be my default when I wake up each morning (it's not always, so I need Him to plant the desire in me!!)
and how God affirmed all of Solomon's efforts in 9:3 when He told Solomon the Temple was "dear to my heart" In Romans 12, Paul says our bodies are the Temple of God. If A = B, then I am dear to God's heart, and He will always watch over me. A very good thought for me to walk in today:)
Everything on earth will worship You -- love the thought of His creation worshiping Him -- thinking of those beautiful little flowers you came across in the back woods Chris -- simply being beautiful for Him, no one else:)
66:9 "Our lives are in His hands, and He keeps our feet from stumbling" Stumbling is painful (I have the chin to prove it) - - I want to rest in His hands. Tomorrow I want to picture myself resting in His hands.
67:1 "May His face smile with favor on us" Can you picture God looking down on you and smiling as you/I learn our lessons -- or as we rest peacefully in His hands in the middle of chaos?
And if we refuse to rest in His hands, if we go it alone and stumble and fall; guess what -- 68:19 says that "each day he carries us in his arms"
God is especially fond of me, God is especially fond of you -- he smiles on me/you, he holds me/you in His hands, he carries me/you in His arms. I don't want to struggle -- I want to rest in that love and faithfulness:)
Thanks for the reminder of those flowers Linda, I had forgotten about them & the lesson. I like 68:6 Reminds me of how He has taken care of me, even when I didn't realize I was in need. And the joy I get by being free from old ways of thinking/acting is nothing compared to the joy He gets watching me walk out of my jail cell & discovering what true freedom brings. I think watching people discover & grow is the coolest thing! I like the praise in these Psalms, though when I'm tired I just like to sit & listen to people praise & worship, I don't stand & participate. That's how I am today. There's a lot of rehearsing of God's goodness in praise & worship. I know for me, that awakens gratefulness in my heart & it gives me courage for today, the future too, but today is all I have been given, so I will live in this moment, right now & trust You Jesus for the rest.
So many words for wisdom: understanding, insight, knowledge, common sense; and it sounds like those are all bi-products of those who are honest, have integrity, just, faithful to God -- and most importantly, those who actively seek wisdom and don't just hope it will fall in their lap!!
I loved 3:3,4 "Never let loyalty and kindness leave you. Time them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation" It's true -- when I think about people that I love to be around, they are both kind and loyal:)
vs 6 "He'll show you the path to take -- that comes after seeking and listening (listening is tough for me, but I think it's key in the wisdom path)
AND vs 11 "Don't reject the Lord's discipline, and don't be upset when He corrects you, for the Lord corrects those He loves!" If I can get that into my brain/heart -- I'll be able to embrace pain better.
Read Proverbs this a.m. here's what stood out to me.
3:5 don't depend on my own understanding & for me, that's a call to trust Someone other than me. Goes well with v7 that says not to be impressed with my own wisdom. I've tried to make myself an island but God is saying that is not wise.
I've also learned that it's not safe either. God wants to & can defend me & honestly, I desperately need Him, I need saving, I can't be a living, beautiful island paradise without God in my life. It's impossible & very lonely. Very boring too!
v23-26 are similar thoughts to me. Let God help you, fight for you, defend you. It's just so hard for me to let anyone, especially men, help & defend me. I just haven't seen it happen in my personal life a lot & so I've developed my own ways of survival. Now God wants to tell me that He is able & can do it. Most of all, He WANTS to. Haven't seen that in men for sure!
I think it goes back to the above posts. I've developed my ways of dealing with things based on experience but God is saying NOT to trust my own wisdom & ways of handling things & especially not my timing of handling things. This is especially hard. So I'm learning (painfully slow too) how to let God defend me & lean on HIS wisdom & ways and His timing of when He does it. Now if I can just transfer that to humans...
If it was Jeremiah who wrote Lamentations -- he was really struggling with the destruction that surrounded him. He'd been predicting it for years and years; then when Jerusalem fell, there was no, "I told you so" about it -- he was simply devastated. It sounds very much like "an act of God"
I know a lot of people says God is not proactive in disaster, He simply pulls back his protection and lets evil do its work. Well, Lamintations doesn't give that impression at all.
The only bright spot in Lam is 3:21-26 where Jeremiah clings to God. "Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness, His mercies begin afresh each morning" And this was said from the ruins of Jerusalem, while friends and family was being led off to Babylon.
Am I able to cling to this hope in the middle of my piddly little complaints and pains? Everything Jeremiah knew and loved was stripped away from him - - Great is His faithfulness.
If you don't have hope, life just ceases to be desirable. By nature I believe we are survivalistic, so I think we keep looking for Someone to believe in, to trust in. God is that One, the only One we can always count on & trust. So I think Jeremiah was clinging to God because everything else was gone. God was his only hope.
In Luke, the thing that stood out to me was rejection. Jesus prepared His disciples for it over & over again as He sent the 12 out & the 72.
9:26 "If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels". This just always stops me in my tracks.
I know I love to be counted among God's followers when everyone is praising God together & we're a group. What about when it's just me? Am I ashamed of Him & will I continue to talk & mention His name if I don't know what the rest believe?
I want my relationship with Jesus to be so tight & so natural that it's like I'm talking about a friend here on earth. Am I ashamed of my friends here? Why then would I be ashamed of my friendship with My Redeemer? Friends can turn in a moment, God is always the same.
Well -- I've always been touched by how you and God talk about so many things -- it stops me in my tracks and I think, "hmmm, did I talk to God about what's on my heart today?" I've always felt like yours and His relationship was natural and tight:)
I like how the disciples "told Him everything" that means the good, the bad, and the ugly -- He was a safe place. Yet, after all the miracles they had performed, they still doubted when He said, "You feed them!" They (I) just couldn't fully grasp His power.
Jesus reminds me that "If I try to hang on to my life, I'll lose it" I need to be more lost in His will (vs 24)
and again, I need to be quiet and "Listen to Him" vs 35
A-mazing (but again - I do it too) a little bit of power corrupts -- vs 46, they'd just witnessed and performed miracles, helped feed 5,000+ people, some had seen the transfiguration and they began arguing about which of them was the greatest. How often we need to be reminded that we're here to serve (no wonder Jesus gave us communion!)
I'm just going to finish up by saying that I've felt this emotion many times with the different churches around: "we told him to stop because he isn't in our group" and JESUS, wonderful JESUS said "Don't stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you!" I guess it's another way we argue about who is the greatest, and Jesus simply says -- serve together! It's all about me -- not about you or your "group"
Maybe I'm a little slow, but I don't think I realized that Galatians 4:10 was referring to the Feast of Tabernacles, Day of Atonement, Passover, etc, before. All the important feast days that were held that pointed to the cross & were nailed to the cross & done away with. Shown by the veil being torn in to when Christ died.
ReplyDeleteAll those things were what made me glad that I wasn't alive back then to have to do them. The drudgery of it all or being enslaved to them as Paul is pointing out to the Galatians here. The context is very clear that the Mosaic law is what Paul is talking about. I just never put it together for that verse.
It must have been hard to break tradition so to speak & not do those feasts & observe those days. The Jews who didn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah kept trying to get people to do all the things Moses had them do before. Makes a lot more sense to me now.
I was also caught by the wording in the NLT of 6:14. We usually hear about how we need to lose interest in the world & focus on Christ & what He wants us to do. This is true but the rest of the verse says that the world also has lost interest in Paul. Hmmm, that could have been a hard ego hit. They were courting him to probably be the next high priest at one point.
So I shouldn't be alarmed when all of a sudden, the world loses interest in me & my abilities because it means that I'm not aligned with them & their agenda anymore. I'm of interest to God though, He's especially fond of me. :D And that should be enough.
Twice we hear about God moving in "just the right time (4:4 and 6:10) I need to patiently wait for His timing.
ReplyDeleteI relate to 4:10 -- it's how I was raised, earn favor with God by observing stuff; do the right thing. I love the new emphasis on relationship.
4:17 -- human ways are not God's ways. Sounds like grade
school girl's emotional games.
I was thinking of the mom's in 4. Hagar illustrates the result of human manipulation and interference with God's plans.
Sarah illustrates total trust in God.
Sinful nature vs. Holy Spirit driven nature: Gal 5: 19 - 22.
I love it that the person who restores (6:1) is safe: they are gentle and humble - - who wouldn't want to spill out their guts to someone like that?
I like how God's Truth is speaking to you right now. So neat to see how applicable to our present day God's Word written so long ago can be.
ReplyDeleteI'm done with reading the Moses books on Mondays. So I'm reading in John right now. Reading about how Jesus interacted with people, how He ministered to them. Gives me insights into how He interacts with me. He wants me to grow & think & develop.
ReplyDeleteStarted with Nicodemus & the woman at the well. Nic puts Jesus' comments into the context of what he knows & understands, something we all do. Of course, Jesus' comments don't fit in that context, so we struggle to understand them & get a bit exasperated because they seem too impossible to happen. Being born again when you're old? Not happening!
The Samaritan woman does the same thing with the well & water. Wow, we are so slow to open our minds to new ideas & understand the power that He has. And we get impatient when people don't catch on after the 1st time & He's been dealing with the same mindset for hundreds of years!
I also see Jesus not getting frustrated when He has to move to a different area for ministry. He simply trusts His Father & doesn't get upset at the petty quarrel of who is baptizing more (John 4:1). He doesn't plow thru the barrier, but leaves to a different area.
He understands that it's good for Him to move about & talk with different people. This world isn't His home so He's not worried about settling down in one place & getting comfortable. He's focused on His mission. Our mission may be different & require us to stay in one place longer than He did, but where is our focus, His mission or our comfort? I know I look for the easy way every time.
I wonder how many people I've missed that He has wanted me to talk to just because I was looking out for myself instead of letting Him provide for me. Stressing vs trusting.
Just so much in these 2 encounters. I get something new every time I go through them.
Really good thoughts Chris -- I went back and read it twice; once fast -- and once slow. I miss his deeper meaning all the time; I am still working on thinking deeper - - my thoughts seem so shallow; a lifetime work for me.
ReplyDeleteI also appreciated the view of Jesus not getting trapped in becoming upset of the quarrel - - so very very easy for me to do - - He just rested in His Father's plan for His life.
Good thoughts Chris -- I really appreciated you pulling those ideas out of John!! I'll plow through Moses, who knows -- maybe there's something!!
Moses struggles with God -- kindof reminds me of the physical struggling that Jacob did. When God demands that Moses "Get going" without Me -- Moses has only one request (34:8) travel with us.
ReplyDeleteMoses = humility. He knew where his strength, wisdom, & cunning had come from. He wasn't overconfident in his leadership, he found his confidence in the presence and leading of God.
In one spot it said that the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. I'm thinking that God must have veiled His face in light of the later encounter where God unveils as much of His glory as Moses can handle.
Hey -- interesting that Joshua would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting. I wonder what went on for him? Obviously God was grooming him for future leadership - - did he also have encounters with God at the tent? and where is my tent of meeting? Where do I encounter God?
I had an awe-time this morning thinking of how holy and majestic it must have been to see some of God's glory -- the hear His voice talk about the parts of His character that were precious to Him: compassion, mercy, patience, love, faithfulness, forgiveness, accountability.
I KNOW I take my God for granted; cheapening time with Him into a buddy time -- He IS my Buddy, my Friend -- but so much more. Look at Moses response: "Moses immediately threw himself to the ground, and worshiped"
A reminder from last week's sermon in 34:28 that the 10 commandments are the only words we have that were written by God Himself.
It almost sounds in 34:34 that Moses glowing face was permanent. That he went through the rest of his leadership veiling and unveiling his face - interesting; a physical sign of His connection with God.
It IS pretty cool that God can implant wisdom, ability, and expertise into people (35:31) and I love how the people over-gave. We always focus on the negative with the Israelites -- but here's a time where they came through big; giving of their stuff whole-heartedly:)
While I was reading Solomon's prayer of dedication, I included myself in it most of the time. I want to have an undivided heart in serving God. My focus solely on Him. Trusting & depending, listening & learning. Not running off in my own strength, creating battles that I was never intended to fight.
ReplyDeleteGod's glory backed the priests out of the temple again. He impresses upon us over and over again that He cannot be contained, but He condescends to dwell with us, to be a visible God in our lives. We just don't get it. We go from one extreme, a showy worship to another - too familiar, as you say Linda, a buddy time. Cheapening His power & the awe He deserves.
I like seeing Moses' response too. He was so close to God & yet, in His direct Presence, He realized how small he really was & worshiped His Creator with reverence.
I just need to keep in mind that I am the clay & I will always be the clay. He will always be the Potter. I don't want to get stiff & hard, just be teachable & pliable in His capable hands.
Can you imagine taking a peek into the Most Holy place and seeing those angels 15 feet high, covered in gold and surrounding the ark? Awesome! I wonder what happened to Aaron's rod and the pot of manna that was in the ark for awhile? (8:9)
ReplyDeleteI think it'd be neat also, to watch the temple come together without the sound of tools - - something about the peace in that creation.
Since Solomon was the wisest -- I view him as very actively involved in the architecture and the construction -- the head guy, all major questions going to him.
I also liked it that Solomon built God's house before his own (at least it sounds like that's what he did) I wonder how Pharaough's daughter became his first wife -- sounds political to me (and that, in my view, is not wise - - but, that's just my opinion!)
It also sounds like Solomon was a judge, not just a king (7:7)
Huram was the modern day Bazaliel!
I was wondering about Solomon's prayer where he said he'd built a temple for God, a place where God could live forever (8:13) thinking how that was kindof putting limits on God. But, Solomon said it better in 8:27 "But will God really live on earth? Whey even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!"
Solomon's prayer request was for God to hear. A lot of "If this happens, and people turn back to you -- then hear"
8:41 sounds like a prelude to the Queen of Sheba!
King Hiram of Tyre sure shows up a lot - must have been a personal friend (only Hiram didn't really like all of Sol's gifts!)
Here are the two take-aways for me today:
8:58 "May He give us the desire to do His will" I think that's what I need -- the desire; I want his will to be my default when I wake up each morning (it's not always, so I need Him to plant the desire in me!!)
and how God affirmed all of Solomon's efforts in 9:3 when He told Solomon the Temple was "dear to my heart" In Romans 12, Paul says our bodies are the Temple of God. If A = B, then I am dear to God's heart, and He will always watch over me. A very good thought for me to walk in today:)
Everything on earth will worship You -- love the thought of His creation worshiping Him -- thinking of those beautiful little flowers you came across in the back woods Chris -- simply being beautiful for Him, no one else:)
ReplyDelete66:9 "Our lives are in His hands, and He keeps our feet from stumbling" Stumbling is painful (I have the chin to prove it) - - I want to rest in His hands. Tomorrow I want to picture myself resting in His hands.
67:1 "May His face smile with favor on us" Can you picture God looking down on you and smiling as you/I learn our lessons -- or as we rest peacefully in His hands in the middle of chaos?
And if we refuse to rest in His hands, if we go it alone and stumble and fall; guess what -- 68:19 says that "each day he carries us in his arms"
God is especially fond of me, God is especially fond of you -- he smiles on me/you, he holds me/you in His hands, he carries me/you in His arms. I don't want to struggle -- I want to rest in that love and faithfulness:)
Thanks for the reminder of those flowers Linda, I had forgotten about them & the lesson.
ReplyDeleteI like 68:6 Reminds me of how He has taken care of me, even when I didn't realize I was in need. And the joy I get by being free from old ways of thinking/acting is nothing compared to the joy He gets watching me walk out of my jail cell & discovering what true freedom brings. I think watching people discover & grow is the coolest thing!
I like the praise in these Psalms, though when I'm tired I just like to sit & listen to people praise & worship, I don't stand & participate. That's how I am today.
There's a lot of rehearsing of God's goodness in praise & worship. I know for me, that awakens gratefulness in my heart & it gives me courage for today, the future too, but today is all I have been given, so I will live in this moment, right now & trust You Jesus for the rest.
So many words for wisdom: understanding, insight, knowledge, common sense; and it sounds like those are all bi-products of those who are honest, have integrity, just, faithful to God -- and most importantly, those who actively seek wisdom and don't just hope it will fall in their lap!!
ReplyDeleteI loved 3:3,4 "Never let loyalty and kindness leave you. Time them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation" It's true -- when I think about people that I love to be around, they are both kind and loyal:)
vs 6 "He'll show you the path to take -- that comes after seeking and listening (listening is tough for me, but I think it's key in the wisdom path)
AND vs 11 "Don't reject the Lord's discipline, and don't be upset when He corrects you, for the Lord corrects those He loves!" If I can get that into my brain/heart -- I'll be able to embrace pain better.
Read Proverbs this a.m. here's what stood out to me.
ReplyDelete3:5 don't depend on my own understanding & for me, that's a call to trust Someone other than me. Goes well with v7 that says not to be impressed with my own wisdom. I've tried to make myself an island but God is saying that is not wise.
I've also learned that it's not safe either. God wants to & can defend me & honestly, I desperately need Him, I need saving, I can't be a living, beautiful island paradise without God in my life. It's impossible & very lonely. Very boring too!
v23-26 are similar thoughts to me. Let God help you, fight for you, defend you. It's just so hard for me to let anyone, especially men, help & defend me. I just haven't seen it happen in my personal life a lot & so I've developed my own ways of survival. Now God wants to tell me that He is able & can do it. Most of all, He WANTS to. Haven't seen that in men for sure!
I think it goes back to the above posts. I've developed my ways of dealing with things based on experience but God is saying NOT to trust my own wisdom & ways of handling things & especially not my timing of handling things. This is especially hard. So I'm learning (painfully slow too) how to let God defend me & lean on HIS wisdom & ways and His timing of when He does it. Now if I can just transfer that to humans...
If it was Jeremiah who wrote Lamentations -- he was really struggling with the destruction that surrounded him. He'd been predicting it for years and years; then when Jerusalem fell, there was no, "I told you so" about it -- he was simply devastated. It sounds very much like "an act of God"
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of people says God is not proactive in disaster, He simply pulls back his protection and lets evil do its work. Well, Lamintations doesn't give that impression at all.
The only bright spot in Lam is 3:21-26 where Jeremiah clings to God. "Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness, His mercies begin afresh each morning" And this was said from the ruins of Jerusalem, while friends and family was being led off to Babylon.
Am I able to cling to this hope in the middle of my piddly little complaints and pains? Everything Jeremiah knew and loved was stripped away from him - - Great is His faithfulness.
If you don't have hope, life just ceases to be desirable. By nature I believe we are survivalistic, so I think we keep looking for Someone to believe in, to trust in. God is that One, the only One we can always count on & trust. So I think Jeremiah was clinging to God because everything else was gone. God was his only hope.
ReplyDeleteIn Luke, the thing that stood out to me was rejection. Jesus prepared His disciples for it over & over again as He sent the 12 out & the 72.
9:26 "If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels". This just always stops me in my tracks.
I know I love to be counted among God's followers when everyone is praising God together & we're a group. What about when it's just me? Am I ashamed of Him & will I continue to talk & mention His name if I don't know what the rest believe?
I want my relationship with Jesus to be so tight & so natural that it's like I'm talking about a friend here on earth. Am I ashamed of my friends here? Why then would I be ashamed of my friendship with My Redeemer? Friends can turn in a moment, God is always the same.
Well -- I've always been touched by how you and God talk about so many things -- it stops me in my tracks and I think, "hmmm, did I talk to God about what's on my heart today?" I've always felt like yours and His relationship was natural and tight:)
ReplyDeleteI like how the disciples "told Him everything" that means the good, the bad, and the ugly -- He was a safe place. Yet, after all the miracles they had performed, they still doubted when He said, "You feed them!" They (I) just couldn't fully grasp His power.
Jesus reminds me that "If I try to hang on to my life, I'll lose it" I need to be more lost in His will (vs 24)
and again, I need to be quiet and "Listen to Him" vs 35
A-mazing (but again - I do it too) a little bit of power corrupts -- vs 46, they'd just witnessed and performed miracles, helped feed 5,000+ people, some had seen the transfiguration and they began arguing about which of them was the greatest. How often we need to be reminded that we're here to serve (no wonder Jesus gave us communion!)
I'm just going to finish up by saying that I've felt this emotion many times with the different churches around: "we told him to stop because he isn't in our group" and JESUS, wonderful JESUS said "Don't stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you!" I guess it's another way we argue about who is the greatest, and Jesus simply says -- serve together! It's all about me -- not about you or your "group"