So, back in January, I told you about my resolution to get through the Bible three times this year. It was the only one I really had for the year of 2014, with the hope of learning to better follow the command of not worrying about today which is pushed forward by the other command of seeking first God's kingdom.
Well! It's been an awesome few months. I am 3/4 of the way through my Bible for the first read-through. I used a different translation than I ever have before, as well as it's chronological version. It has been excellent and has given me fresh eyes for familiar texts.
Something that stood out to me this time was the people of God are really that: people. While they might seem like spiritual giants (and let's face it, are), but they are staggeringly human and sinful as well.
Adam, a man who walked and talked with God disobeyed a 'simple' command and then blamed shifted.
Noah obeyed and built a boat, but then also planted a vineyard and got stinkingly drunk.
Abraham, though faithful, had trust issues, especially regarding his wife.
Lot, Jacob, Rachel, Moses, Aaron, Miriam -It goes on and on, and I haven't even left the Pentateuch!
I am finding it all comes back to people like Gideon, Saul, David, or the lepers who found the empty camp. They are unlikely, by our standards (even their own, really!!), to accomplish anything great. In actuality these people did not do anything great. They did not have that ability. They are just like us. The difference is that God picked them out. God worked through them. God gave them the ability to obey, or lead, or father a nation, or defeat a blaspheming giant, or the multitude of other things that you see throughout the Bible.
I believe that God uses the unlikely or impossible so He can show off and have us see how incredibly awe inspiring He is. We, lumps of lifeless clay, can do nada, nothing, zilch, zippo, etc apart from Him. I think when we, in pride, get in His way and think 'hey look at how I can mold myself into anything I want', we lose sight of the grander, perfect plan that our Potter has for us- garnering praise for Himself. (- it kinda follows the James passage, doesn't it? Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will raise you up - and what greater heights are there than praising an Almighty God?)
I also think that when we try to attempt something for God that it kind of falls flat on its face. I'll reiterate, without Him nothing is possible. The biblical example that kind of comes to mind is Rebekah getting Jacob to dress and smell like his older brother in order to gain the blessing. While he did get the blessing, Rebekah paid a high price of having her son have to run away. She never saw her son again. If both she and Isaac had obeyed there would not have been as huge of a rift in that family, I believe. Humble obedience, keeps the family together. - ha for your own and for the universal Body, eh?
Anyway, I'm excited to get into the New Testament and see how this theme continues!
I've also been mulling on different resolutions to make regarding other areas of my life. I'm still unsure of what exactly to resolve, but I think, it would go something along the lines of challenging myself in the crafts I love - so finishing the first adult sweater pattern I've been knitting. Following through on learning the basics of water colour and practising. ...things like that. Maybe when I actually come up with something solid I'll let you know.
How are your resolutions coming?
xo,
J
Soli Deo Gloria
No comments:
Post a Comment