I think I'll be different here... I think I'll share some thoughts without sharing the context or the lens from which I've been seeing them. I hope to come back and share more of the context at a later date.
If we are said to be "in the world but not of the world," why do we
1. care how the world sees us?
2. identify ourselves in worldly terms/possessions?
3. view the present in terms of permanence and the eternal in terms of theory?
Why do we get so concerned with the day to day? Do we not recognize that the kingdom of heaven "is at hand"?
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Blind man seeing?
In Matthew 20, two blind men were sitting by the roadside, presumably begging. When they heard the crowd (following Jesus), they wondered what was going on. Finding out that it was Jesus passing that way, they began to shout. The crowd tried unsuccessfully to shush them, because they got Jesus' attention. Jesus, of course, asked them what they wanted, and they said they wanted to see. So, in compassion, He touched them, and they could see.
Think about how weird it would be after a lifetime of being blind to be able to see. There would be a whole new world to explore with another sense. But think also of having to connect what you knew through hearing with now being able to see. You would not immediately know what to fear (not so much fear, rather what you would have to watch out for) or what was good or bad...
Now, to Christ's disciples,--I hope that's you-- have you forgotten that you were blind? Have you forgotten the wonder of the sight He has given you? Should we not have more grace towards those who are still blind?
To anyone else--do you want your sight too? He is still compassionate and wants to touch you too.
Think about how weird it would be after a lifetime of being blind to be able to see. There would be a whole new world to explore with another sense. But think also of having to connect what you knew through hearing with now being able to see. You would not immediately know what to fear (not so much fear, rather what you would have to watch out for) or what was good or bad...
Now, to Christ's disciples,--I hope that's you-- have you forgotten that you were blind? Have you forgotten the wonder of the sight He has given you? Should we not have more grace towards those who are still blind?
To anyone else--do you want your sight too? He is still compassionate and wants to touch you too.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Insecurities
My job is delivering mail to roughly 500 businesses and families. Sometimes my job provides me with funny stories, some of which I've chronicled on my FB page. Other times, I encounter things that make me think. Today I had such an encounter.
I had to go to the door of a customer's house to deliver a package this morning around 11. When I rang the doorbell, the woman of the house answered the door with her child. The woman, who is attractive and married, seemed somewhat embarrassed that she had not gotten around yet and remarked, "You always seem to catch me in my pajamas. I'm kinda under the weather today. Normally I'm not this lazy."
Did she have any reason to be ashamed/embarrassed/insecure? No. She did not appear immodest. Did it matter what I or anyone else thought of her? No!
So what's the point? In the same way, it does not matter what others think of us--only what God thinks of us. See Romans 8:1-25. If we are being led by the Spirit, we are the sons of God... There is such richness in this. I don't have any kids, but I can still imagine having the love of a father, wanting the best for his child and that the child grow to maturity... but most of all just loving the child because of or for who the child is! Nor are we bound to follow the flesh. Another awesome verse is 1 Samuel 16:7, which says, "But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'"
Is there something about your outward appearance or circumstances that you are ashamed of? Check your heart. Find the freedom that He gives.
I had to go to the door of a customer's house to deliver a package this morning around 11. When I rang the doorbell, the woman of the house answered the door with her child. The woman, who is attractive and married, seemed somewhat embarrassed that she had not gotten around yet and remarked, "You always seem to catch me in my pajamas. I'm kinda under the weather today. Normally I'm not this lazy."
Did she have any reason to be ashamed/embarrassed/insecure? No. She did not appear immodest. Did it matter what I or anyone else thought of her? No!
So what's the point? In the same way, it does not matter what others think of us--only what God thinks of us. See Romans 8:1-25. If we are being led by the Spirit, we are the sons of God... There is such richness in this. I don't have any kids, but I can still imagine having the love of a father, wanting the best for his child and that the child grow to maturity... but most of all just loving the child because of or for who the child is! Nor are we bound to follow the flesh. Another awesome verse is 1 Samuel 16:7, which says, "But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'"
Is there something about your outward appearance or circumstances that you are ashamed of? Check your heart. Find the freedom that He gives.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
"The One"
Do you believe there is one right person for everyone? Here's my take.
In a nutshell, my take on "the one" is that it is fear-inducing garbage. I used to think it was the "Christian view," but the older I've gotten, the more I realize this is hogwash--although it's (somewhat) presented by well-meaning people. Track with me. There isn't anything in the Bible that definitively supports this. In fact, I can only think of 4 cases (off the top of my head) where God chose/determined the spouse for someone, which would make these exceptions and not the rule. (Adam/Eve, Isaac/Rebekah, Boaz/Ruth, Joseph/Mary are the 4 I thought of.)
Think about how "the one" is presented. In my life, it was, "the person you marry is the second most important decision you'll make in your life--after choosing to follow Christ." Shoot, even think about how Christ is often presented-- (ask Jesus into your heart so you don't go to hell). That isn't exactly the most effective way to get someone to seek the Lord and follow after Him, is it? In the same way, shouldn't we teach people better what it means to have a personal relationship with Christ and how to follow Him instead of focusing on a dire possible outcome?
The key part of this whole thing is that if we are determined to follow His will, it naturally follows that we will marry someone who is also determined to follow His will. However, God's will is not so narrow that we need to fear being outside of it. If we are too concerned with finding "the one," we will not be as focused on what we know to be His will, ie what He says in Scripture to be doing (Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and Love your neighbor as yourself-- all the law and prophets are summed up in these two).
We also have free will. If I make a choice among A, B and C, that choice will have consequences, both good and not so good. Assuming that choice is that of a spouse, the direction of our life will be affected, not necessarily towards or away from God (although that can definitely happen), but the smaller things will be affected. Geography, family, friends, jobs, and more-directed passions are some of those differences--none of which is a heaven/hell issue. We are subject to/affected by others' free will as well. I had a professor who said, "God's foreknowledge is not causative." So, ultimately, even though God knows if/who we will marry, that does not force it to happen (like He knew about sin).
One last little thought for now on this question is that there are 6,000,000,000 people on the planet, give or take ;-). Good luck finding a needle in that haystack. =)
Sorry if that was rambling. =) I just don't want people to live in subjection to lies of our enemy. We're made for freedom-- to give Him much glory.
In a nutshell, my take on "the one" is that it is fear-inducing garbage. I used to think it was the "Christian view," but the older I've gotten, the more I realize this is hogwash--although it's (somewhat) presented by well-meaning people. Track with me. There isn't anything in the Bible that definitively supports this. In fact, I can only think of 4 cases (off the top of my head) where God chose/determined the spouse for someone, which would make these exceptions and not the rule. (Adam/Eve, Isaac/Rebekah, Boaz/Ruth, Joseph/Mary are the 4 I thought of.)
Think about how "the one" is presented. In my life, it was, "the person you marry is the second most important decision you'll make in your life--after choosing to follow Christ." Shoot, even think about how Christ is often presented-- (ask Jesus into your heart so you don't go to hell). That isn't exactly the most effective way to get someone to seek the Lord and follow after Him, is it? In the same way, shouldn't we teach people better what it means to have a personal relationship with Christ and how to follow Him instead of focusing on a dire possible outcome?
The key part of this whole thing is that if we are determined to follow His will, it naturally follows that we will marry someone who is also determined to follow His will. However, God's will is not so narrow that we need to fear being outside of it. If we are too concerned with finding "the one," we will not be as focused on what we know to be His will, ie what He says in Scripture to be doing (Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and Love your neighbor as yourself-- all the law and prophets are summed up in these two).
We also have free will. If I make a choice among A, B and C, that choice will have consequences, both good and not so good. Assuming that choice is that of a spouse, the direction of our life will be affected, not necessarily towards or away from God (although that can definitely happen), but the smaller things will be affected. Geography, family, friends, jobs, and more-directed passions are some of those differences--none of which is a heaven/hell issue. We are subject to/affected by others' free will as well. I had a professor who said, "God's foreknowledge is not causative." So, ultimately, even though God knows if/who we will marry, that does not force it to happen (like He knew about sin).
One last little thought for now on this question is that there are 6,000,000,000 people on the planet, give or take ;-). Good luck finding a needle in that haystack. =)
Sorry if that was rambling. =) I just don't want people to live in subjection to lies of our enemy. We're made for freedom-- to give Him much glory.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)