Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Read this.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/paul-david-tripp/desire-friend-of-the-devil-grace-from-god/338375139538089
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
the sun always rises.
The ancients say that once upon a time a disciple asked the elder, "Holy One, is there anything I can do to be enlightened?"
And the Holy One answered, "As little as you can do to make the sun rise in the morning."
"Then of what use," the surprised disciple asked, "are the spiritual exercises you prescribe?"
"To make sure," the elder said, "that you are not asleep when the sun begins to rise."
The spiritual life is a commitment to faith where we would prefer certainty. It depends on readiness. It demands constancy. It flourishes awareness. Never stop seeking, never stop searching, there is something to be found.
And the Holy One answered, "As little as you can do to make the sun rise in the morning."
"Then of what use," the surprised disciple asked, "are the spiritual exercises you prescribe?"
"To make sure," the elder said, "that you are not asleep when the sun begins to rise."
The spiritual life is a commitment to faith where we would prefer certainty. It depends on readiness. It demands constancy. It flourishes awareness. Never stop seeking, never stop searching, there is something to be found.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Just some thoughts.
Predestination–we want to know whether we are "called" but more importantly, whether ourselves and our loved ones have been “chosen” or “saved”. What it comes down to is us coming to a point where we ask ourselves: Do we have enough faith to make it to heaven? Am I saved, is my family saved, are my loved ones saved? I am afraid of the possibility they might not be, so I want to know so that I can save all of us or try to. Now, let me try to explain how I would go about trying to answer these questions:
Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:44
Verses like this implant fear sometimes. But, I do not think we should dwell on this verse without reading more of the Bible and knowing Jesus...
Lets look at Mark 5:
The first story is about Jesus and the tomb dweller: A very, sad and broken man lives in a cemetery because he does not know how to fix himself. He is running from society and hates himself for his brokenness and pain, even to the point of self-destruction. He cuts himself and cries out and cannot control himself. No one person could contain him, not even with chains. This man was possessed by a “legion of demons,” in other words, he was evil in the world's eyes and they just wanted to contain him. The man runs to Jesus and cries out in fear of knowledge of His Holiness, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” (Mark 5:7)
This man was possessed by demons and his whole life is in pieces, but even in the midst of suffering and a dark, dark life…the spirit within him, acknowledges Jesus as the “Son of the Most High God.” That was all it took for Jesus to rebuke the demons and send them out of the man and into pigs. All it took was for the man to call Jesus and to BELIEVE He is the Son of the Most High God here to save you.
The second story is about a woman who has hemorrhages, uncontrollable bleeding, and she could not be cured by any physicians. Still she had heard of this Jesus.
"For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” (Mark 5:28-30)
This woman was superstitious about Jesus. It was like she had found a lucky penny and she knew if she just put it in her pocket everything would be well again. She touched Jesus full of Hope.
But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Mark 5:33-34
Although her faith was not even what most of us "Christians" would imagine “faith” to be, Jesus simply needed one tiny little glimpse of her reaching out for Him to “make her well.”
The last part of Chapter 5 is Jesus raising a little girl from the dead...the little girl did nothing. First Jesus tells the Father "Do not fear, only BELIEVE." (5:36) She was lying on the bed and Jesus came to her calling her "Talitha cumi (little girl), I say to you arise." (5:41) And she got up and began walking. Jesus rose a girl up from the grave.
This chapter in the Bible is only one of many, many more that reminds me of the Grace and Love of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Whether we go to him like the tomb-dweller, lost and broken and wanting to take our own lives, or like the woman who simply hoped He could fix her problem, or like the little girl who did nothing to call Jesus to herself, Jesus asks but for the littlest hint of FAITH. I believe Jesus has given us free-will. He has supplied each and every person with an equal opportunity to know Him (this looks different for every person).
I think a "call" is something applied by the Spirit to the individual's heart and life and results in a turning away from idolatry and sin and a lifelong turning to God in Christ and through believing, allegiance.
Like Adam and Eve after the Fall, once we get to the place we see our sin and we know our brokenness, we can begin to comprehend what Jesus offers us. I picture them sitting in the Garden of Eden after God has come and given them a lecture about how hard life will be now and they ask themselves "Well, now what?" I think often times, I look at my life and I ask the same thing. I get to a season where I feel like I am failing and nothing is going right, I know my sin and I feel so small and distant from God, I start doubting and questioning everything, then all I can do is sit before the Mighty cross and say "Well, what now do I do?"
Remember when you were a child and your Dad or Mom would put you in time out? I remember time out vividly, I would have to sit in a corner by myself for a solid 5 minutes (that felt like an hour) and do nothing but think about what I did. I remember specifically calling my Mom "stupid" and I had to sit in time out. Although I would not dare show her how bad I felt about calling her a name, I felt my heart hurt and when I thought about what I said, there was something telling me I was wrong and I needed to apologize in order to play again.
I feel like that so often. I am convicted of my sin and what a broken, hurting person I am, and I sometimes get afraid but in order to go "play" again I must face my mistakes and my failures and I must ask for forgiveness. It is not until we face the struggle and let it filter through all our thoughts and moral guidance before we can walk away prepared and ready to face the joy and life and love again!
Victory is not the absence of struggle. Freedom is the presence of struggle with the clarity of mind to know and see struggle differently and the ability in that moment, through the power of Jesus Christ, to choose what is true and right and holy; to choose Christ in the middle of your crisis. Christ gives everyone and anyone equal opportunity to find Him, we humans just have to realize our brokenness and reach out.
All and all, we have to remember God is God, and He will accomplish the salvation of His Creation in ways unimaginable by mortal man. Who are we to say you are saved, or you are not?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:25
The honest answer, I do not know; no human knows the right answer to this big question. But, as I get to know God more and more, I can promise you from the deepest part of my heart, God loves us. God cares about us. God wants to give us (EVERY ONE OF US) life, to the point that He willingly, freely gave His One and Only Son so that we might have Life. We need only believe.
"Do not let your heart be troubled. BELIEVE in God. BELIEVE also in Me." John 14:1
I know we often wonder about ourselves and our friends. I constantly wonder, but at the end of the day isnt it more important to put all our energy into being present and just loving people as best we know how, rather than spend our time trying to figure out if they are saved or how you can get them there? Just by being who you are and embracing who you were created to be is more than enough for God to use you. Your obedience to who you are in Christ, unconsciously gives permission to others around you to do the same. Its almost like your confidence and authenticity in who you are frees others of their own fears and insecurities. Being around you makes people feel safe to be real, the same Truth that lives in you resonates with the Truth in others whether they know it about themselves or not. I read somewhere the other day, "If God was small enough for you to understand him, he would not be big enough for you to completely trust him."
In the words of my good friend Bradley, "Deep calls to Deep." I dont care who you are or how different you are, we all have the same breath and the same heart beat...Jesus resides within all of creation. Dont forget that.
Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:44
Verses like this implant fear sometimes. But, I do not think we should dwell on this verse without reading more of the Bible and knowing Jesus...
Lets look at Mark 5:
The first story is about Jesus and the tomb dweller: A very, sad and broken man lives in a cemetery because he does not know how to fix himself. He is running from society and hates himself for his brokenness and pain, even to the point of self-destruction. He cuts himself and cries out and cannot control himself. No one person could contain him, not even with chains. This man was possessed by a “legion of demons,” in other words, he was evil in the world's eyes and they just wanted to contain him. The man runs to Jesus and cries out in fear of knowledge of His Holiness, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” (Mark 5:7)
This man was possessed by demons and his whole life is in pieces, but even in the midst of suffering and a dark, dark life…the spirit within him, acknowledges Jesus as the “Son of the Most High God.” That was all it took for Jesus to rebuke the demons and send them out of the man and into pigs. All it took was for the man to call Jesus and to BELIEVE He is the Son of the Most High God here to save you.
The second story is about a woman who has hemorrhages, uncontrollable bleeding, and she could not be cured by any physicians. Still she had heard of this Jesus.
"For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” (Mark 5:28-30)
This woman was superstitious about Jesus. It was like she had found a lucky penny and she knew if she just put it in her pocket everything would be well again. She touched Jesus full of Hope.
But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Mark 5:33-34
Although her faith was not even what most of us "Christians" would imagine “faith” to be, Jesus simply needed one tiny little glimpse of her reaching out for Him to “make her well.”
The last part of Chapter 5 is Jesus raising a little girl from the dead...the little girl did nothing. First Jesus tells the Father "Do not fear, only BELIEVE." (5:36) She was lying on the bed and Jesus came to her calling her "Talitha cumi (little girl), I say to you arise." (5:41) And she got up and began walking. Jesus rose a girl up from the grave.
This chapter in the Bible is only one of many, many more that reminds me of the Grace and Love of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Whether we go to him like the tomb-dweller, lost and broken and wanting to take our own lives, or like the woman who simply hoped He could fix her problem, or like the little girl who did nothing to call Jesus to herself, Jesus asks but for the littlest hint of FAITH. I believe Jesus has given us free-will. He has supplied each and every person with an equal opportunity to know Him (this looks different for every person).
I think a "call" is something applied by the Spirit to the individual's heart and life and results in a turning away from idolatry and sin and a lifelong turning to God in Christ and through believing, allegiance.
Like Adam and Eve after the Fall, once we get to the place we see our sin and we know our brokenness, we can begin to comprehend what Jesus offers us. I picture them sitting in the Garden of Eden after God has come and given them a lecture about how hard life will be now and they ask themselves "Well, now what?" I think often times, I look at my life and I ask the same thing. I get to a season where I feel like I am failing and nothing is going right, I know my sin and I feel so small and distant from God, I start doubting and questioning everything, then all I can do is sit before the Mighty cross and say "Well, what now do I do?"
Remember when you were a child and your Dad or Mom would put you in time out? I remember time out vividly, I would have to sit in a corner by myself for a solid 5 minutes (that felt like an hour) and do nothing but think about what I did. I remember specifically calling my Mom "stupid" and I had to sit in time out. Although I would not dare show her how bad I felt about calling her a name, I felt my heart hurt and when I thought about what I said, there was something telling me I was wrong and I needed to apologize in order to play again.
I feel like that so often. I am convicted of my sin and what a broken, hurting person I am, and I sometimes get afraid but in order to go "play" again I must face my mistakes and my failures and I must ask for forgiveness. It is not until we face the struggle and let it filter through all our thoughts and moral guidance before we can walk away prepared and ready to face the joy and life and love again!
Victory is not the absence of struggle. Freedom is the presence of struggle with the clarity of mind to know and see struggle differently and the ability in that moment, through the power of Jesus Christ, to choose what is true and right and holy; to choose Christ in the middle of your crisis. Christ gives everyone and anyone equal opportunity to find Him, we humans just have to realize our brokenness and reach out.
All and all, we have to remember God is God, and He will accomplish the salvation of His Creation in ways unimaginable by mortal man. Who are we to say you are saved, or you are not?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:25
The honest answer, I do not know; no human knows the right answer to this big question. But, as I get to know God more and more, I can promise you from the deepest part of my heart, God loves us. God cares about us. God wants to give us (EVERY ONE OF US) life, to the point that He willingly, freely gave His One and Only Son so that we might have Life. We need only believe.
"Do not let your heart be troubled. BELIEVE in God. BELIEVE also in Me." John 14:1
I know we often wonder about ourselves and our friends. I constantly wonder, but at the end of the day isnt it more important to put all our energy into being present and just loving people as best we know how, rather than spend our time trying to figure out if they are saved or how you can get them there? Just by being who you are and embracing who you were created to be is more than enough for God to use you. Your obedience to who you are in Christ, unconsciously gives permission to others around you to do the same. Its almost like your confidence and authenticity in who you are frees others of their own fears and insecurities. Being around you makes people feel safe to be real, the same Truth that lives in you resonates with the Truth in others whether they know it about themselves or not. I read somewhere the other day, "If God was small enough for you to understand him, he would not be big enough for you to completely trust him."
In the words of my good friend Bradley, "Deep calls to Deep." I dont care who you are or how different you are, we all have the same breath and the same heart beat...Jesus resides within all of creation. Dont forget that.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Are we truly friends?
Today in church, our pastor talked to us about "covenant relationships", particularly friendships...next week is spouses. I was intrigued and his sermon left me thinking, a lot.
1 Samuel 18:1-5
"As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants."
The story in context: By God's grace, young David has killed the big bad Philistine, Goliath. The whole nation loves him for it and all the sudden he is famous. King Saul already has a son in line for the throne, Jonathan. But, before Saul has time to even address the issue, something comes over Jonathan and he suddenly knows and understands his rightful place is not on the throne, he hands it to David (see the above excerpt).
The way Jonathan loves David thereby leads to Jonathan's Father accepting and loving David as his own. And Jonathan makes a "covenant" (an eternal everlasting bond, he bound himself to David) because he loved him "as his own soul." And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe (his "rightful" royal position) and his armor, even his sword and bow and belt (his protection from the enemy, security, comfort, defense) leaving himself unclothed of royalty and safety, he was left with nothing but trust in this friendship. David had every opportunity to humiliate, embarrass, even kill Jonathan and Jonathan knew that. He was willing to trust David with everything he had. Sound like a familiar story? cough–JC–cough
What a beautiful parallel of God the Father loving us because Jesus loves us as "his own soul." I could go on and on at how this friendship so perfectly displays the story of Jesus Christ leaving his royalty and heavenly throne for us; how He became as vulnerable as a baby and trusts us with all of Him; how He offers us his royal robe and lays down his royal life for one of a "nobody" in earthly terms; but in more relevant terms, I want to talk about how this challenges us to think more deeply into relationships, particularly friendships.
"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15
If Jesus allows us access into the state of the most intimate fellowship with Himself, we must also have access to that in the form of friends.
The companionship between David and Jonathan seems like the deepest anyone can go in a friendship, that is the side by side relationship versus the face to face spouse relationship. There is deeper between a man and a woman, especially when you get into the sexual bond...but this conversation is about friendships first, we will address spouse level at another time! David and Jonathan understand each other and they connect in a deeper way; they share a similar vision of the world. I love this because I think I can relate to this type of friendship. It is the friendship between two true believers in Christ. I think in our culture we have a hard time letting people in and letting ourselves out. Most of the time, unconsciously, we are looking for the Jonathans. When really, we were sent here to be the Jonathans'. We were sent here to sacrifice whatever we may have acquired on this Earth to show others the love of Christ. Jonathan approaches David first, and immediately expresses vulnerability without question.
"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one`s life for his friends" John 15:13
The proverb reminds me of how many "companions" I have and how little they know of how deeply Jesus loves them. I am certain I have too many "companions" who really do not know how much I may care, how much I love them. Laying down your life for others means putting them first and making their need more important than your own. The verse is about being selfless and sacrificial in your actions towards others rather than selfish. How many people around you do not truly know the depth of friendship you have to offer them? How do we get there with these friends?
1 Samuel 18:1-5
"As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants."
The story in context: By God's grace, young David has killed the big bad Philistine, Goliath. The whole nation loves him for it and all the sudden he is famous. King Saul already has a son in line for the throne, Jonathan. But, before Saul has time to even address the issue, something comes over Jonathan and he suddenly knows and understands his rightful place is not on the throne, he hands it to David (see the above excerpt).
The way Jonathan loves David thereby leads to Jonathan's Father accepting and loving David as his own. And Jonathan makes a "covenant" (an eternal everlasting bond, he bound himself to David) because he loved him "as his own soul." And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe (his "rightful" royal position) and his armor, even his sword and bow and belt (his protection from the enemy, security, comfort, defense) leaving himself unclothed of royalty and safety, he was left with nothing but trust in this friendship. David had every opportunity to humiliate, embarrass, even kill Jonathan and Jonathan knew that. He was willing to trust David with everything he had. Sound like a familiar story? cough–JC–cough
What a beautiful parallel of God the Father loving us because Jesus loves us as "his own soul." I could go on and on at how this friendship so perfectly displays the story of Jesus Christ leaving his royalty and heavenly throne for us; how He became as vulnerable as a baby and trusts us with all of Him; how He offers us his royal robe and lays down his royal life for one of a "nobody" in earthly terms; but in more relevant terms, I want to talk about how this challenges us to think more deeply into relationships, particularly friendships.
"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15
If Jesus allows us access into the state of the most intimate fellowship with Himself, we must also have access to that in the form of friends.
The companionship between David and Jonathan seems like the deepest anyone can go in a friendship, that is the side by side relationship versus the face to face spouse relationship. There is deeper between a man and a woman, especially when you get into the sexual bond...but this conversation is about friendships first, we will address spouse level at another time! David and Jonathan understand each other and they connect in a deeper way; they share a similar vision of the world. I love this because I think I can relate to this type of friendship. It is the friendship between two true believers in Christ. I think in our culture we have a hard time letting people in and letting ourselves out. Most of the time, unconsciously, we are looking for the Jonathans. When really, we were sent here to be the Jonathans'. We were sent here to sacrifice whatever we may have acquired on this Earth to show others the love of Christ. Jonathan approaches David first, and immediately expresses vulnerability without question.
"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one`s life for his friends" John 15:13
The proverb reminds me of how many "companions" I have and how little they know of how deeply Jesus loves them. I am certain I have too many "companions" who really do not know how much I may care, how much I love them. Laying down your life for others means putting them first and making their need more important than your own. The verse is about being selfless and sacrificial in your actions towards others rather than selfish. How many people around you do not truly know the depth of friendship you have to offer them? How do we get there with these friends?
Thursday, February 2, 2012
What are you seeking?
Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" John 1:38
I can just see Jesus looking me in the eyes, saying "What do you want from me? What makes me different than anyone else? Do you truly believe I am the One who came to save you?" I think Jesus is asking real Faith and trust of the disciples even before they begin to follow Him. "Are you sure you want to do this? I cannot offer you worldly material gifts, and I do not offer all the answers, but if you really trust me, and trust who I am then...Come and you will see."
3 years later, Jesus still says the same simple things to his followers..."Come and eat."
"Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' Now none of them dared ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord." John 21:12
All day I could not get this picture out of my mind of Jesus glancing at me over his shoulder saying "Jennie, what are you seeking? What do you want from me?" I went running and over and over again His voice echoed in my ears. What am I seeking from Jesus? Why do I follow Him every day? I thought long and hard how I would answer Him and I think all I could say would be, Jesus I want life.
I want life to the fullest. Its almost like that childhood excitement you get when you got the coolest new toy for Christmas. You spend all day and the next few weeks just trying to learn how to use it. I feel like God made me to be this intricate toy, full of many gifts and talents and I have yet to even begin knowing myself and the potential I have for God to use me. I want to follow Jesus to have life to the fullest, to let Him mold me into the best that I can be and that is into His own image. I want to learn to be like Him and to never stop trying to get to know Him like He knows me.
I can just see Jesus looking me in the eyes, saying "What do you want from me? What makes me different than anyone else? Do you truly believe I am the One who came to save you?" I think Jesus is asking real Faith and trust of the disciples even before they begin to follow Him. "Are you sure you want to do this? I cannot offer you worldly material gifts, and I do not offer all the answers, but if you really trust me, and trust who I am then...Come and you will see."
3 years later, Jesus still says the same simple things to his followers..."Come and eat."
"Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' Now none of them dared ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord." John 21:12
All day I could not get this picture out of my mind of Jesus glancing at me over his shoulder saying "Jennie, what are you seeking? What do you want from me?" I went running and over and over again His voice echoed in my ears. What am I seeking from Jesus? Why do I follow Him every day? I thought long and hard how I would answer Him and I think all I could say would be, Jesus I want life.
I want life to the fullest. Its almost like that childhood excitement you get when you got the coolest new toy for Christmas. You spend all day and the next few weeks just trying to learn how to use it. I feel like God made me to be this intricate toy, full of many gifts and talents and I have yet to even begin knowing myself and the potential I have for God to use me. I want to follow Jesus to have life to the fullest, to let Him mold me into the best that I can be and that is into His own image. I want to learn to be like Him and to never stop trying to get to know Him like He knows me.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Do you ever feel like you dont know Jesus? Like you can't know Him?
I know Hillary Kunz. I can tell you what she likes and what she does not like, I can tell you how much she loves chocolate and banana pancakes, or how she always eats the scraps on my plate because she does not want anything going to waste, I can tell you her fears and the little things that make her smile, I can tell you how much she loves the outdoors, or how she gets ridiculously competitive sometimes...I know her because she is my best friend.
Sometimes, I just wish I knew Jesus like that.
I wish I knew His stories like I know Hillarys and my own, I wish I could talk about Jesus like I know how he reacts to things and what he delights in and what he hates, where he spent his time and what his friends were like. I wish I knew His smell and what His voice sounded like. I want to know Him like I know myself and I know my best friends, but it feels like I cant.
Then I remember...
Our culture sometimes makes me feel like you cannot talk about Jesus unless you are a scholar, like the Bible is the beginning and end of knowing Jesus. But, honestly, I feel like I could not pick up the Bible and really understand it until I had established the relationship I have with Him. As amazing as the Bible is and as thankful as I am for it and as much as I get out of it–I believe my God is bigger than any book and he can communicate with me and tell me all the wonderful Truths about Him and the world and myself without ever having seen the Bible. Would it be different? Totally. Would it be harder? Probably. Do you think he could still use me? No doubt.
By saying our God is limited to a tangible relationship we are dangerously limiting Him to human nature, when really He is so much more than that.
"For the things that are seen are transient, but the things unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18) The man Jesus was "transient"-temporary; fleeting; lasting only for a short time....BUT the unseen Jesus, the Jesus who returned to the heavenly realms, He is forever. We can never lose Him.
He was fully human, yes, but He was also fully God.
The tangible things in our lives, even relationships with others, are puppets God works through to help us grow. But when we conclude tangible things are directly God Himself, we seriously risk those things becoming idols in our lives.
I think God delights in us by showering us with intangible things, when we expect worldly and touchable gifts. God does not give us big houses and cars when he delights in us, but instead offers us opportunities to know Him more through all things even relationships. It is not until the fullness of time that Jesus will unite all things together and finally we will know Him.
Jesus cannot be limited to One person because "He is before all things and in Him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17)
The more we come to know Him, the more captivated we are by Him and the harder it is to take our eyes off of Him. Lord, help us to see and to know you more. Let us fix our eyes on you and then we will know your delight.
Do you think you have to know alot about scripture to be a good follower of Jesus?
What about the Christians who do not own Bibles?
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like it I never had one.
Sometimes, I just wish I knew Jesus like that.
I wish I knew His stories like I know Hillarys and my own, I wish I could talk about Jesus like I know how he reacts to things and what he delights in and what he hates, where he spent his time and what his friends were like. I wish I knew His smell and what His voice sounded like. I want to know Him like I know myself and I know my best friends, but it feels like I cant.
Then I remember...
Our culture sometimes makes me feel like you cannot talk about Jesus unless you are a scholar, like the Bible is the beginning and end of knowing Jesus. But, honestly, I feel like I could not pick up the Bible and really understand it until I had established the relationship I have with Him. As amazing as the Bible is and as thankful as I am for it and as much as I get out of it–I believe my God is bigger than any book and he can communicate with me and tell me all the wonderful Truths about Him and the world and myself without ever having seen the Bible. Would it be different? Totally. Would it be harder? Probably. Do you think he could still use me? No doubt.
By saying our God is limited to a tangible relationship we are dangerously limiting Him to human nature, when really He is so much more than that.
"For the things that are seen are transient, but the things unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18) The man Jesus was "transient"-temporary; fleeting; lasting only for a short time....BUT the unseen Jesus, the Jesus who returned to the heavenly realms, He is forever. We can never lose Him.
He was fully human, yes, but He was also fully God.
The tangible things in our lives, even relationships with others, are puppets God works through to help us grow. But when we conclude tangible things are directly God Himself, we seriously risk those things becoming idols in our lives.
I think God delights in us by showering us with intangible things, when we expect worldly and touchable gifts. God does not give us big houses and cars when he delights in us, but instead offers us opportunities to know Him more through all things even relationships. It is not until the fullness of time that Jesus will unite all things together and finally we will know Him.
Jesus cannot be limited to One person because "He is before all things and in Him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17)
The more we come to know Him, the more captivated we are by Him and the harder it is to take our eyes off of Him. Lord, help us to see and to know you more. Let us fix our eyes on you and then we will know your delight.
Do you think you have to know alot about scripture to be a good follower of Jesus?
What about the Christians who do not own Bibles?
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like it I never had one.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)