Be still and know that I am God... - Psalm 46:10
Rest is a blessed thing. I learn this every semester in school, as do my friends as they watch me lose my mind by week 12.
But what is Rest? We often think of it as eight hours of sleep per night, or sitting on the couch after a long day. And what person doesn't like this sort of rest? We are physical beings with bodies which are fragile, breakable, "fatigueable," and which need rest. Jesus said He would give us rest, if only we would come to Him. "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." But the Christian life is hard. We are called to take up our crosses and follow Christ, and often that means getting very physically tired. I am thinking of the missionaries and other ministering hands around the world, as well as our own personal lives, as we devote ourselves to know Christ more deeply every day. Every day we may not know it, but we depend solely upon God to supply our earthly, physical needs.
There is a dichotomy of needs which both define rest: the physical needs and the spiritual Need. As my professor said, some people understand their Need for a Savior who will present their case before God and justify them; while others simply want the Lord to fix their immediate, physical problems. The two thieves next to Christ on the cross exemplify this principle: the first thief sought to have the Lord get him off that cross by taunting Him, saying "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" The second rebuked the first, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong. ... Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom."
The first thief garnered no response.
The second gained Rest, for our Lord told him, "Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
The second had caught onto the meaning of Rest. Rest is not eight hours of sleep, for the grace of God is not so insufficient as to not sustain us to get done what we need to do. Rest is the end ultimate Problem, that of mankind's damnation for what we has done. Had the first thief been freed of the cross, had he gotten his wish and been saved from the immediate situation, he would have only postponed the inevitability of his physical death, and his eternal, spiritual death. The struggle against sin and unrighteousness and damnation would have only been prolonged for the first criminal, if he had gotten his wish.
But the second thief got that which he wanted. He wanted to end the constant struggle against God, the bitter fighting against Him which must have governed most of this thief's life for him to deserve the punishment of death on a cross. He understood God is not someone to be scoffed at, but someone to be feared, and not to be trifled with.
Our Lord is not a solution, as the first thief would like, to all our temporal problems. Those will come and go; we will struggle against them for a time and then they will leave. But the ultimate Struggle, of measuring up to the standard of God, will always exist ad never be surmounted unless we fly to Jesus, who will willingly give us the Rest we so desperately need.
Come unto Me, all ye that labour against the darkness inside your spirit and are heavy laden with sin, and I will give you Rest--that ultimate, final, eternal Rest for which we were created.
May you find this Rest.
Matthew 11:28
Luke 23
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Go here (you won't regret it)
Hello my few and lovely followers,
Recently I had the privilege of writing a blog post for someone else's blog on the Pursuit of Happiness--what it is, why it's a God-given right, and how to defend it. Following I have copied the post in its entirety, but do go and check out the blog itself. It's a great resource for learning more on the Declaration of Independence, American Government, the Constitution, etc.
yoco38.wordpress.com
Here's the post.
Any discussion on the pursuit of happiness is fruitless without the foundation of God, His Laws, and our duty as created beings to follow. Whether or not we actually do follow Him and His laws is a moot point, since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). So before I even attempt to organize this post, let it be clear that all pursuits of happiness ought to adhere to the “Laws of Nature and Nature’s God.”
Defining the Pursuit of Happiness. To gain a better understanding of the pursuit of happiness, we must look through our Founding Father’s eyes. The Declaration of Independence lists all sorts of infractions the King committed against his people’s liberty, which prompted the American Revolution. Therefore, in a word, the pursuit of happiness may be simply equated to “freedom.” In a sentence fragment, the pursuit of happiness is the ability to act as a free agent under the laws of God to secure one’s success or failure in any area of life. This shall be our working definition.
Justifying the Pursuit of Happiness. Up to this point, it has been often mentioned and implied that the pursuit of happiness must be regulated under the rules of God. One could make an argument that the act of rebelling against the English government did not comply to these laws, since in Romans 13, Paul tells us to submit to the authorities God has ordained. However, let each be reminded that Romans 13 refers to “rulers” as the “ministers of God.” These ministers of God are not to be a “terror to good works, but to the evil.” (v. 3). This is why the pursuit of happiness must be subject to the laws of God, but this is also why, “that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it.” (Side note: A few sentences after this clause, the Founders make it clear that all this altering and abolishing ought to be effected only after numerous infractions, and after it looks pretty clear that the government is headed for nowhere but despotism.)
A responsibility is given to these God-ordained governments, and they must use their power only for the intended responsibility, of punishing evil and protecting good. Human governments are, after all, human. Ordainment by God doesn’t make them any more immune to the temptations and failures we under their rule succumb to. They are ordained by God to sanction and enforce His perfect laws, as well as defend the rights of the law-abiding citizens from the acts of the evil-doers. They are not put here to create their own “whim”sical laws. Therefore, the pursuit of happiness still stands as a legitimate right worth fighting for under our definition.
Defending the Pursuit of Happiness. Although they can’t be written off, the pursuit of happiness’ greatest threat is not despotic rulers enacting laws on a whim. The true threat comes from within. John Adams has already said what I want to, so I shall conclude with two excerpts from some of his letters:
“...it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People in a greater Measure than they have it now, They may change their Rulers and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty. They will only exchange Tyrants and Tyrannies.” (emphasis mine)
“While our country remains untainted with the principles and manners which are now producing desolation in so many parts of the world; while she continues sincere, and incapable of insidious and impious policy, we shall have the strongest reason to rejoice in the local destination assigned us by Providence. But should the people of America once become capable of that deep simulation towards one another, and towards foreign nations, which assumes the language of justice and moderation, while it is practising iniquity and extravagance, and displays in the most captivating manner the charming pictures of candour, frankness, and sincerity, while it is rioting in rapine and insolence, this country will be the most miserable habitation in the world. Because we have no government, armed with power, capable of contending with human passions, unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge and licentiousness would break the strongest cords of our Constitution, as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. Oaths in this country are as yet universally considered as sacred obligations. That which you have taken, and so solemnly repeated on that venerable ground, is an ample pledge of your sincerity and devotion to your country and its government.”
Useful links:
Romans 13
The Declaration of Independence
Quotes from John Adams
Any comments, criticisms, etc. are welcome. :)
Recently I had the privilege of writing a blog post for someone else's blog on the Pursuit of Happiness--what it is, why it's a God-given right, and how to defend it. Following I have copied the post in its entirety, but do go and check out the blog itself. It's a great resource for learning more on the Declaration of Independence, American Government, the Constitution, etc.
yoco38.wordpress.com
Here's the post.
Any discussion on the pursuit of happiness is fruitless without the foundation of God, His Laws, and our duty as created beings to follow. Whether or not we actually do follow Him and His laws is a moot point, since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). So before I even attempt to organize this post, let it be clear that all pursuits of happiness ought to adhere to the “Laws of Nature and Nature’s God.”
Defining the Pursuit of Happiness. To gain a better understanding of the pursuit of happiness, we must look through our Founding Father’s eyes. The Declaration of Independence lists all sorts of infractions the King committed against his people’s liberty, which prompted the American Revolution. Therefore, in a word, the pursuit of happiness may be simply equated to “freedom.” In a sentence fragment, the pursuit of happiness is the ability to act as a free agent under the laws of God to secure one’s success or failure in any area of life. This shall be our working definition.
Justifying the Pursuit of Happiness. Up to this point, it has been often mentioned and implied that the pursuit of happiness must be regulated under the rules of God. One could make an argument that the act of rebelling against the English government did not comply to these laws, since in Romans 13, Paul tells us to submit to the authorities God has ordained. However, let each be reminded that Romans 13 refers to “rulers” as the “ministers of God.” These ministers of God are not to be a “terror to good works, but to the evil.” (v. 3). This is why the pursuit of happiness must be subject to the laws of God, but this is also why, “that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it.” (Side note: A few sentences after this clause, the Founders make it clear that all this altering and abolishing ought to be effected only after numerous infractions, and after it looks pretty clear that the government is headed for nowhere but despotism.)
A responsibility is given to these God-ordained governments, and they must use their power only for the intended responsibility, of punishing evil and protecting good. Human governments are, after all, human. Ordainment by God doesn’t make them any more immune to the temptations and failures we under their rule succumb to. They are ordained by God to sanction and enforce His perfect laws, as well as defend the rights of the law-abiding citizens from the acts of the evil-doers. They are not put here to create their own “whim”sical laws. Therefore, the pursuit of happiness still stands as a legitimate right worth fighting for under our definition.
Defending the Pursuit of Happiness. Although they can’t be written off, the pursuit of happiness’ greatest threat is not despotic rulers enacting laws on a whim. The true threat comes from within. John Adams has already said what I want to, so I shall conclude with two excerpts from some of his letters:
“...it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People in a greater Measure than they have it now, They may change their Rulers and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty. They will only exchange Tyrants and Tyrannies.” (emphasis mine)
“While our country remains untainted with the principles and manners which are now producing desolation in so many parts of the world; while she continues sincere, and incapable of insidious and impious policy, we shall have the strongest reason to rejoice in the local destination assigned us by Providence. But should the people of America once become capable of that deep simulation towards one another, and towards foreign nations, which assumes the language of justice and moderation, while it is practising iniquity and extravagance, and displays in the most captivating manner the charming pictures of candour, frankness, and sincerity, while it is rioting in rapine and insolence, this country will be the most miserable habitation in the world. Because we have no government, armed with power, capable of contending with human passions, unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge and licentiousness would break the strongest cords of our Constitution, as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. Oaths in this country are as yet universally considered as sacred obligations. That which you have taken, and so solemnly repeated on that venerable ground, is an ample pledge of your sincerity and devotion to your country and its government.”
Useful links:
Romans 13
The Declaration of Independence
Quotes from John Adams
Any comments, criticisms, etc. are welcome. :)
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Insight
Note: I've had this post "stewing" in my drafts folder because I felt compelled to broach this topic but unsure of how to go about it in a way that made it applicable to today's Christian society.
This still isn't a post following the Promises series, but I really wanted to share some things I've been reading with you guys.
Currer Bell, better known as Charlotte Bronte, wrote a preface to her second edition of Jane Eyre basically because the book stood very controversially against the standards of the time. I will leave you to meditate on the following.
"Conventionality is not morality. Self-righteousness is not religion. To attack the first is not to assail the last. To pluck the mask from the face of the Pharisee, is not to lift an impious hand to the Crown of Thorns.
"These things and deeds are diametrically opposed: they are distinct as is vice from virtue. Men too often confound them: they should not be confounded: appearance should not be mistaken from truth; narrow human doctrines, that only tend to elate and magnify a few, should not be substituted for the world-redeeming creed of Christ. There is - I repeat it - difference; and it is a good, and not a bad action to mark broadly and clearly the line of separation between them.
"The world may not like to see these ideas dissevered, for it has been accustomed to blend them; finding it convenient to make external show pass for sterling worth - to let white-washed walls vouch for clean shrines. It may hate him who dares to scrutinise and expose, to rase the gilding and show base metal under it, to penetrate the sepulchre and reveal charnel relics; but hat as it will, it is indebted to him."
Now perhaps this description of "Christianity", while true enough when written in its day, is rather unfitting for the more sincere outlooks of many churches today. But after all these hundreds of years after Bronte wrote this preface, we have not got past actions, which Bronte describes as appearances.
Actions do not define a man. Were that true, every single one of the elect should perish. No one shall be saved for not sinning; but everyone may be saved by the virtue of the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent. (John 17:3). In every single circle people's worth is still judged largely by their actions, especially in churches, where the "correction gospel" is taught so often as people try to fix their actions, instead of falling deeper in love with Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:12: "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful unto me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."
John 14:15: "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
As my pastor down in Dallas has long said, it's a love affair. Christ liveth in me. There are Christians out there, living like the rest of the world, but eventually the Christ in them will come out. He has to, assuming the person's faith is real. Eventually they will fall deeper in love with Jesus, and their mood, their speech, their thoughts, their actions will become more and more aligned with the Christ in them.
Back in the early 19th century, people's actions did not match the state of their hearts. Back then, Bronte would expose this. Today, the situation seems to be reversed, and many Christians would focus on the symptoms, and insist that the flock read their Bible, pray every day, and in essence fix their actions. But what good does it do to read one's Bible if one does it under the compulsion of anything besides a love for Christ? No, it's not a matter of waiting for the right "feeling" to come over one, it's a matter of people's hearts being turned to the Lord and performing these actions because they love Jesus.
Love is not a feeling. Love is a sacrifice. Love is an outworking of the state of the heart. "Faith without works is dead," but all the works in the world done for the wrong reasons will not revive one's faith. Fall more deeply in love with the Christ in you, and pray for those who haven't. Let each be governed by his own conscience, not another's; but let no man's freedom hinder his brother's faith. It is then that the actions and the heart will align themselves, and Pharisees may be altogether done away with.
This still isn't a post following the Promises series, but I really wanted to share some things I've been reading with you guys.
Currer Bell, better known as Charlotte Bronte, wrote a preface to her second edition of Jane Eyre basically because the book stood very controversially against the standards of the time. I will leave you to meditate on the following.
"Conventionality is not morality. Self-righteousness is not religion. To attack the first is not to assail the last. To pluck the mask from the face of the Pharisee, is not to lift an impious hand to the Crown of Thorns.
"These things and deeds are diametrically opposed: they are distinct as is vice from virtue. Men too often confound them: they should not be confounded: appearance should not be mistaken from truth; narrow human doctrines, that only tend to elate and magnify a few, should not be substituted for the world-redeeming creed of Christ. There is - I repeat it - difference; and it is a good, and not a bad action to mark broadly and clearly the line of separation between them.
"The world may not like to see these ideas dissevered, for it has been accustomed to blend them; finding it convenient to make external show pass for sterling worth - to let white-washed walls vouch for clean shrines. It may hate him who dares to scrutinise and expose, to rase the gilding and show base metal under it, to penetrate the sepulchre and reveal charnel relics; but hat as it will, it is indebted to him."
Now perhaps this description of "Christianity", while true enough when written in its day, is rather unfitting for the more sincere outlooks of many churches today. But after all these hundreds of years after Bronte wrote this preface, we have not got past actions, which Bronte describes as appearances.
Actions do not define a man. Were that true, every single one of the elect should perish. No one shall be saved for not sinning; but everyone may be saved by the virtue of the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent. (John 17:3). In every single circle people's worth is still judged largely by their actions, especially in churches, where the "correction gospel" is taught so often as people try to fix their actions, instead of falling deeper in love with Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:12: "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful unto me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."
John 14:15: "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
As my pastor down in Dallas has long said, it's a love affair. Christ liveth in me. There are Christians out there, living like the rest of the world, but eventually the Christ in them will come out. He has to, assuming the person's faith is real. Eventually they will fall deeper in love with Jesus, and their mood, their speech, their thoughts, their actions will become more and more aligned with the Christ in them.
Back in the early 19th century, people's actions did not match the state of their hearts. Back then, Bronte would expose this. Today, the situation seems to be reversed, and many Christians would focus on the symptoms, and insist that the flock read their Bible, pray every day, and in essence fix their actions. But what good does it do to read one's Bible if one does it under the compulsion of anything besides a love for Christ? No, it's not a matter of waiting for the right "feeling" to come over one, it's a matter of people's hearts being turned to the Lord and performing these actions because they love Jesus.
Love is not a feeling. Love is a sacrifice. Love is an outworking of the state of the heart. "Faith without works is dead," but all the works in the world done for the wrong reasons will not revive one's faith. Fall more deeply in love with the Christ in you, and pray for those who haven't. Let each be governed by his own conscience, not another's; but let no man's freedom hinder his brother's faith. It is then that the actions and the heart will align themselves, and Pharisees may be altogether done away with.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Mercy
Oh Genesis 4, how hard it is to glean a promise from God out of you. I'm really sorry if this post seems a little contrived.
In Genesis 4, we see brother rise up against brother, quite literally. It's the famous chapter in which Cain kills Abel, on the account of jealousy. Then God comes into the spotlight and asks Cain where Abel is, and Cain of course denies any knowledge of his brother's whereabouts. But God doesn't need anybody to confess since He already knows everything anyway. Then we hear about Cain running off to the Land of Nod and building a city and naming it after his son Enoch. Then we go into a bit of genealogy, and from there there is not much more interesting news except that after Seth is born men begin to call upon the Lord.
Cain, after having killed his brother and then denied his knowledge, can't swallow his medicine. "And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear." v 13. And so what do you think God does? Instead of forcing it down Cain's throat, He puts a mark on Cain's forehead so no one will kill him, and sends him out to the Land of Nod, where Cain can live out the rest of his life alive without fear of someone coming and avenging Abel's blood. And God even grants Cain a wife.
My friends, you can never get so bad as to wander beyond the reaches of the mercies of God. And if God can look out for Cain's life, Cain who killed his own brother in cold blood, how much more will your Heavenly Father forgive you if you come to Him.
P.S. These blogs will probably come out once to twice a week now. Every day was overkill, sorry. :P
In Genesis 4, we see brother rise up against brother, quite literally. It's the famous chapter in which Cain kills Abel, on the account of jealousy. Then God comes into the spotlight and asks Cain where Abel is, and Cain of course denies any knowledge of his brother's whereabouts. But God doesn't need anybody to confess since He already knows everything anyway. Then we hear about Cain running off to the Land of Nod and building a city and naming it after his son Enoch. Then we go into a bit of genealogy, and from there there is not much more interesting news except that after Seth is born men begin to call upon the Lord.
Cain, after having killed his brother and then denied his knowledge, can't swallow his medicine. "And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear." v 13. And so what do you think God does? Instead of forcing it down Cain's throat, He puts a mark on Cain's forehead so no one will kill him, and sends him out to the Land of Nod, where Cain can live out the rest of his life alive without fear of someone coming and avenging Abel's blood. And God even grants Cain a wife.
My friends, you can never get so bad as to wander beyond the reaches of the mercies of God. And if God can look out for Cain's life, Cain who killed his own brother in cold blood, how much more will your Heavenly Father forgive you if you come to Him.
P.S. These blogs will probably come out once to twice a week now. Every day was overkill, sorry. :P
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Victory
You thought this was going to be about Genesis 3, didn't you? Ha, then you read the title and thought "hmmm maybe she's just going out of order." But you were right! This IS about Genesis 3!
Hold up then! Genesis 3 is like the most depressing chapter in the entire Bible right? Even moreso than Lamentations!
Well, maybe you're right. I mean, God does say this:
"Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." (v. 17-19)
Aaaand then there was this,
"And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."
And stop, no more, you'll just upset me.
But wait a minute. There's one very interesting part in this chapter: a blessing instead of a curse, and that is verses 14-15.
"And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
Did you catch that? God predicts what's going to happen right off the bat. There's no hemming and hawing, no suspense, just a plain old prophecy about the defeat of the Serpent, and the adoption of us as God's children through this defeat.
That's how it is with God. He just wins. He can't not win. Satan can finagle and whisper and a lot of times it seems like he's winning. But the only thing Satan has got going for him is clamorous insistence. God speaks in a still, small voice. I remember watching a movie, where the discussion of kings came up, and someone wanted to know why the kings of lesser importance always gave the biggest presents, and the kings of greater importance always gave the smaller gifts, if any at all. The reason? The kings of greater importance have no need to prove their importance through flashy, gaudy presents and clamorous insistence of their jurisdiction. They have their power; they need not prove it. Because for them, victory and kingship is just a given: an inevitable, immutable truth of their existence.
It seems to me that it is the same with God. Satan and the world's way is so flashy and gleaming, so clamorous and apparent. "All that is gold does not glitter." I suppose in this post the promise of victory is simply more of a given, unchangeable fact--because victory is always the Lord's. He promises it from the beginning.
Hold up then! Genesis 3 is like the most depressing chapter in the entire Bible right? Even moreso than Lamentations!
Well, maybe you're right. I mean, God does say this:
"Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." (v. 17-19)
Aaaand then there was this,
"And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."
And stop, no more, you'll just upset me.
But wait a minute. There's one very interesting part in this chapter: a blessing instead of a curse, and that is verses 14-15.
"And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
Did you catch that? God predicts what's going to happen right off the bat. There's no hemming and hawing, no suspense, just a plain old prophecy about the defeat of the Serpent, and the adoption of us as God's children through this defeat.
That's how it is with God. He just wins. He can't not win. Satan can finagle and whisper and a lot of times it seems like he's winning. But the only thing Satan has got going for him is clamorous insistence. God speaks in a still, small voice. I remember watching a movie, where the discussion of kings came up, and someone wanted to know why the kings of lesser importance always gave the biggest presents, and the kings of greater importance always gave the smaller gifts, if any at all. The reason? The kings of greater importance have no need to prove their importance through flashy, gaudy presents and clamorous insistence of their jurisdiction. They have their power; they need not prove it. Because for them, victory and kingship is just a given: an inevitable, immutable truth of their existence.
It seems to me that it is the same with God. Satan and the world's way is so flashy and gleaming, so clamorous and apparent. "All that is gold does not glitter." I suppose in this post the promise of victory is simply more of a given, unchangeable fact--because victory is always the Lord's. He promises it from the beginning.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Solitaire
We all feel alone at one point in our life. We all feel as if we give and give until it hurts, and there's no one to give back. At some point we all feel as if no one around us cares for us as deeply as we care for them.
But it just ain't so. God created us in His image--and God is not a solitary Being. He is the consummate example of sociability: He is Three in One. Bearing His image, we also are not designed to be alone. We are designed to be surrounded by other people bearing His image; we are designed to have communion with Him and with others.
In Genesis 2, Adam finds out for himself just how alone he really was, since he actually was the "last man on earth." Of course, God knew this, and He also knew how something made in His image could not exist on his own. But, obstinate to the last, the first man on earth had to find out for himself how disappointing and painful it is to also be the last man on earth. And so he went along, naming each animal, and thereby discovered how utterly different and, in fact, superior he was to every other species currently living on the earth. ("Let's see, this one is a 'mosquito', and this is a 'cow,' and this, ooooh, this! This I'll call a 'platypus.' 'Platypus, platypus, platypus.' It just rolls off the tongue.") But nothing could be a suitable "help-meet" for poor old Adam here.
After this epiphany of Adam's, God uses supernatural anesthesia to knock Adam into a "deep sleep," takes a chunk out of his rib, stitches him back up, and forms Eve. It's perfect, because now Adam doesn't have to fill his days coming up with more animal names that just roll off the tongue (although I've always thought he hit a real winner when he named the platypus).
Ok, ok, Tessa, that's great. I thought this series was about Promises.
You're absolutely right, devil's-advocate paragraph! The promises I have found in here (a) God knows our needs even before we do, and will go to great lengths to help us recognize them so He can meet them, and (b) we never have to be alone. (Oh, of all the corny ways to phrase that. meh.)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
"Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone." Or something to that effect. Know this: as long as you love God, you will never weep alone. And not only because God is our ultimate comforter, etc., because we all know sometimes that just doesn't cut it for us. We may as well admit it: we all fail in our faith and we all need someone in the flesh to get us through really rough places in our life. God knows this. He knows our fallen state and He knows about all these raging emotions that tear you up and you just don't even know what to do and God seems so distant and you're so alone and no one around seems to be able to help.
God will bring someone. His eye is on the sparrow, how much more is it on you? He created an entirely new being just for Adam, and as God's children, do you think He would be willing to do any less for us? And if He does not send someone in the flesh, He will draw you closer to Himself. God knows what is best for you.
...for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Hebrews 13:5
And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is perfected in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9
You never have to be alone. Promise.
But it just ain't so. God created us in His image--and God is not a solitary Being. He is the consummate example of sociability: He is Three in One. Bearing His image, we also are not designed to be alone. We are designed to be surrounded by other people bearing His image; we are designed to have communion with Him and with others.
In Genesis 2, Adam finds out for himself just how alone he really was, since he actually was the "last man on earth." Of course, God knew this, and He also knew how something made in His image could not exist on his own. But, obstinate to the last, the first man on earth had to find out for himself how disappointing and painful it is to also be the last man on earth. And so he went along, naming each animal, and thereby discovered how utterly different and, in fact, superior he was to every other species currently living on the earth. ("Let's see, this one is a 'mosquito', and this is a 'cow,' and this, ooooh, this! This I'll call a 'platypus.' 'Platypus, platypus, platypus.' It just rolls off the tongue.") But nothing could be a suitable "help-meet" for poor old Adam here.
After this epiphany of Adam's, God uses supernatural anesthesia to knock Adam into a "deep sleep," takes a chunk out of his rib, stitches him back up, and forms Eve. It's perfect, because now Adam doesn't have to fill his days coming up with more animal names that just roll off the tongue (although I've always thought he hit a real winner when he named the platypus).
Ok, ok, Tessa, that's great. I thought this series was about Promises.
You're absolutely right, devil's-advocate paragraph! The promises I have found in here (a) God knows our needs even before we do, and will go to great lengths to help us recognize them so He can meet them, and (b) we never have to be alone. (Oh, of all the corny ways to phrase that. meh.)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
"Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone." Or something to that effect. Know this: as long as you love God, you will never weep alone. And not only because God is our ultimate comforter, etc., because we all know sometimes that just doesn't cut it for us. We may as well admit it: we all fail in our faith and we all need someone in the flesh to get us through really rough places in our life. God knows this. He knows our fallen state and He knows about all these raging emotions that tear you up and you just don't even know what to do and God seems so distant and you're so alone and no one around seems to be able to help.
God will bring someone. His eye is on the sparrow, how much more is it on you? He created an entirely new being just for Adam, and as God's children, do you think He would be willing to do any less for us? And if He does not send someone in the flesh, He will draw you closer to Himself. God knows what is best for you.
...for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Hebrews 13:5
And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is perfected in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9
You never have to be alone. Promise.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Sustenance
Here's the PROMISED post from yesterday! Ha get it... promised post cause it's a series on promises. Yeah, ok, moving on.
Update: I've decided NOT to do the Old and New Testaments in tandem because when I did that I got off to a great start and completely confused both promises I found in these chapters. And not much of this makes a whole lot of logical, chronological sense anyway so I thought I'd try to minimize my losses and just do one chapter a day.
So here we go. Genesis 1.
Now I know you've probably got a billion (ok, a million) expectations about God's promises in Genesis 1, since everyone knows that Genesis 1 is the creation story and everyone's mostest favoritest line in this chapter is "And God saw that it was good." Well, I'm here to live up to ALL your expectations about the predictability of this post!
As I said before, we see the line "it is good" or "it was good" or "it is very good" a lot in this chapter. There aren't really clear-cut "promises" so to speak, like a rainbow or anything. (I can't wait until I get to that chapter. Blogging on THAT promise is going to be EASYYY.)
We see God primarily as the Creator in this chapter, but we also see Him as the Maintainer: have you noticed that God created plants before He created the Sun for photosynthesis or even Bees for pollination? What's keeping those plants alive then?
Imagine yourself creating something, like a watercolor painting, or (if you're like me) a little stick figure. You aren't very quick to destroy it just after you've created it, are you? Of course you're not. You drew that little stick figure, and he even kind of looks like you, and you named him Twiggy, and then you gave him a speech bubble, and he said "hi" to you and your heart melted like butter because your cute little Twiggy speaks in the most adorable font. Yeah? Well, God created us in His own image. He blessed the first two humans (verse 28) and gave them the entire earth to take care of and use. And we talk to Him even as He speaks to us.
People often wonder why God didn't just start over and completely destroy the entire human race because of our shortcomings and sinful wretchedness and constant falling short of His glory. But I believe in this chapter, God through his blessing to Adam and Eve in a way promised to continue the good work He began in us to completion. Why? Because it's never been about us. It's about God creating people in His own image and adopting them through our Savior Jesus Christ as His own children! Yeah, we sin, and we're bad, and you could go on for several millenia about how often we exaggerate, but true, eternal life--that adoption as children of God--isn't even about not sinning.
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." - John 17:3. Our ultimate purpose in life is to know God the Father and Jesus Christ, whom he sent, and become absolutely nothing to let God be all. Our place in life is that of true dependency upon the Lord, and He will sustain us just as He sustained those plants He created before photosynthesis and pollination. And that, my friends, is a promise.
Update: I've decided NOT to do the Old and New Testaments in tandem because when I did that I got off to a great start and completely confused both promises I found in these chapters. And not much of this makes a whole lot of logical, chronological sense anyway so I thought I'd try to minimize my losses and just do one chapter a day.
So here we go. Genesis 1.
Now I know you've probably got a billion (ok, a million) expectations about God's promises in Genesis 1, since everyone knows that Genesis 1 is the creation story and everyone's mostest favoritest line in this chapter is "And God saw that it was good." Well, I'm here to live up to ALL your expectations about the predictability of this post!
As I said before, we see the line "it is good" or "it was good" or "it is very good" a lot in this chapter. There aren't really clear-cut "promises" so to speak, like a rainbow or anything. (I can't wait until I get to that chapter. Blogging on THAT promise is going to be EASYYY.)
We see God primarily as the Creator in this chapter, but we also see Him as the Maintainer: have you noticed that God created plants before He created the Sun for photosynthesis or even Bees for pollination? What's keeping those plants alive then?
Imagine yourself creating something, like a watercolor painting, or (if you're like me) a little stick figure. You aren't very quick to destroy it just after you've created it, are you? Of course you're not. You drew that little stick figure, and he even kind of looks like you, and you named him Twiggy, and then you gave him a speech bubble, and he said "hi" to you and your heart melted like butter because your cute little Twiggy speaks in the most adorable font. Yeah? Well, God created us in His own image. He blessed the first two humans (verse 28) and gave them the entire earth to take care of and use. And we talk to Him even as He speaks to us.
People often wonder why God didn't just start over and completely destroy the entire human race because of our shortcomings and sinful wretchedness and constant falling short of His glory. But I believe in this chapter, God through his blessing to Adam and Eve in a way promised to continue the good work He began in us to completion. Why? Because it's never been about us. It's about God creating people in His own image and adopting them through our Savior Jesus Christ as His own children! Yeah, we sin, and we're bad, and you could go on for several millenia about how often we exaggerate, but true, eternal life--that adoption as children of God--isn't even about not sinning.
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." - John 17:3. Our ultimate purpose in life is to know God the Father and Jesus Christ, whom he sent, and become absolutely nothing to let God be all. Our place in life is that of true dependency upon the Lord, and He will sustain us just as He sustained those plants He created before photosynthesis and pollination. And that, my friends, is a promise.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Promises
So, Katie has this amazing idea about something we both decided to do (but only one of us decided to blog about). She's already got a wonderfully uplifting-edifying-encouraging-of-teenager-and-other-ages kind of blog here: alltothegloryofchrist.blogspot.com. Since I started this splintered blog upon her urging, I've decided to do something with it, instead of take up a perfectly good URL for no reason.
Ok.
The idea is that we read one chapter in the Bible per day, and try to find a promise of God in it. I personally have decided to use this blog to write about that. But I would like to do the Old Testament and the New Testament in tandem--so I'll be writing about Genesis 1 the same day I write about Matthew 1, etc. And I'll be skipping genealogies in order to avoid over-analyzing and focusing on something that may not be exactly applicable to my Christian walk (unless there's a gem like the Prayer of Jabez hidden in them or something).
Expect the first post tomorrow.
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