Thursday, January 30, 2014
Comfort
Today God has really been challenging me when it comes to comfort. I'm kind of an adventurous person. I miss going on adventures in other countries. I think I've just realized the importance of viewing every day as an adventure. Everyday is an opportunity to encourage someone in their walk with God. Everyday I have the opportunity to be faithful. 2 Timothy 2:13 I'm so thankful that even when I am not faithful God is. I also think it is very ironic that the speaker in chapel today talked about Moses today. I still have so much to learn from Moses.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
A Lesson in Humility
This past year I had the opportunity to read my Bible all the way through. It's amazing the things you notice that really stick out to you. Take for instance, the story of Moses. In Bible stories Moses is always depicted as the reluctant leader. He had a moment of bravery, killing the Egyptian man, then his life was thrown into horror as he ran from the consequences of his actions.
It may be true that Moses was running from the consequences of his actions but, He was also running from pride. Acts 7 reveals an entirely different side of Moses. It is not Moses the reluctant leader but Moses the prideful leader. Moses had his own agenda.
Acts 7:17-43 Put a very interesting light on Moses especially verses 23-29:
"Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand. And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, 'Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?' But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?' Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he had two sons (NKJV)."
When I was in Sunday school I never knew that Moses thought he would deliver the Israelites. Moses had to learn that God was the one who would deliver the Israelites in His own way in His own timing. I also think it is interesting that Moses was willing and ready to rescue the Israelites but He needed to wait on God. So many times I am ready and willing to do something and I jump in. Usually things work out but it's usually as messy as Moses hanging out in Midian. I need to learn how to be patient.
It may be true that Moses was running from the consequences of his actions but, He was also running from pride. Acts 7 reveals an entirely different side of Moses. It is not Moses the reluctant leader but Moses the prideful leader. Moses had his own agenda.
Acts 7:17-43 Put a very interesting light on Moses especially verses 23-29:
"Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand. And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, 'Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?' But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?' Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he had two sons (NKJV)."
When I was in Sunday school I never knew that Moses thought he would deliver the Israelites. Moses had to learn that God was the one who would deliver the Israelites in His own way in His own timing. I also think it is interesting that Moses was willing and ready to rescue the Israelites but He needed to wait on God. So many times I am ready and willing to do something and I jump in. Usually things work out but it's usually as messy as Moses hanging out in Midian. I need to learn how to be patient.
Emotions
Seeking a meaningful relationship with God through emotions is as successful as seeking a meaningful relationship with a significant other through emotions; it's fast and the relationship burns out.
A relationship with God may not start with emotion. Sometimes it starts with endurance. I remember when I first started reading my Bible consistently it was hard work. I got lost in Chronicles and frustrated but I kept going because I wanted to know God. That is how my relationship started. It was hard work. In a human relationship successful ones start with an understanding of who the other person is. With God the more we know Him the more we grow to like Him.
As the dad from "The Wedding Planner" would say, "[talking about his wife] For the first time, I appreciated her. Then the appreciation grew to respect. Respect grew to like. Then like grew to love. A deeper love than I could ever hope for."
We grow to love God as we are committed to Him. Then through endurance the emotions come.
Christianity is not about starting with emotions and sprinting, hoping to have enough energy to persevere. It's about a journey that starts with faith and the deeper you go obeying and trusting God the deeper your emotions are towards God.
--At least that has been my experience so far.
A relationship with God may not start with emotion. Sometimes it starts with endurance. I remember when I first started reading my Bible consistently it was hard work. I got lost in Chronicles and frustrated but I kept going because I wanted to know God. That is how my relationship started. It was hard work. In a human relationship successful ones start with an understanding of who the other person is. With God the more we know Him the more we grow to like Him.
As the dad from "The Wedding Planner" would say, "[talking about his wife] For the first time, I appreciated her. Then the appreciation grew to respect. Respect grew to like. Then like grew to love. A deeper love than I could ever hope for."
We grow to love God as we are committed to Him. Then through endurance the emotions come.
Christianity is not about starting with emotions and sprinting, hoping to have enough energy to persevere. It's about a journey that starts with faith and the deeper you go obeying and trusting God the deeper your emotions are towards God.
--At least that has been my experience so far.
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