God is blowing my mind in so many ways right now. Not in that "mountain top-heart full-GOD IS AWESOME" kind of camp feeling, but in how He is speaking to ME. I feel like I am in this incredible season of growth and learning- even though I don't actually feel ... much, constantly, that is.
Today, at Isle of Hope United Methodist, we began and three week series called "Everyday Thanks-living". The general idea is that we are to be thankful in every circumstance (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). That was a verse used today. Meg, one of our ministers, opened with this:
"Do you know what the most often mis-quoted 'Bible verse' is?"
"God will never give you more than you can handle." (or: 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.) 1Cor.10:13
This verse is about temptation. Look around. People are ALWAYS being given more in this life than we can handle. Poverty, racism, war ... Now, there IS a verse that says "33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”" (John 16:33).
I love when the Gospel is made plain to me through something other than "The Gospel". I like when the dots get connected in my heart and mind. It has been happening a lot, recently. Let's see if I can lay out what happened today for you:
We need God. That is a truth. We spend our lives seeking happiness. True? When we face any kind of troubles, heartaches, brokenness, hurt, pain, suffering, weeping, we look to anything that can make us happy again. Whatever that is for you... Sure, there are people that you look at and say, "they don't have any problems. They're well off, financially,they have a happy family, etc.etc.etc." That's all surface stuff, I know...you know. But why would THAT person, THAT family get all the happiness in the world while every other person has to endure hardships? Right. They also have their own tribulations to attend to. We need God. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. God is all of these things. Jesus came so that we could have peace; so that we could have joy; so that we could have love because after Jesus died and was resurrected, we were given the Spirit of God to live in us and guide us, to give us strength in our weakness; The Comforter! For some people, the first thing they do when they're in these seasons of pain and suffering is run to God. Too often, though, that is not the case. We begin to hold on to the things to keep some semblance of order and comfort. Think about it: Generally, when people struggle financially, they begin to be less generous and more tight fisted. When people go through break-ups, divorce, heart-ache; they seek other sources of comfort and fill their hearts and minds with ...do you get the point? We need God. I'll be the first to admit...that coming before God, I have fears. I know that I need fixing, and I know God's the one to do it. I know that that is painful. If I'm already experiencing pain and suffering, why would I willingly open myself up for more? Well, here's the thing: God will do it right. He will do it perfectly. He knows our every need. He knows us! He MADE us. I don't have to fear God's correction because I can trust in his unfailing love and promise to work all things for my good (By the way, that quote comes from Romans 8 and kind of IMPLIES that there will be hardship, something that IS NOT GOOD that we need to overcome...). So, we need God. We need God because God created us and this world. Without God, there really is no reason for this life. Without the promise of a future life, that will be eternal (live on forever), THIS current life has no meaning. Here's where the good news that is the "Gospel" plays out. We need God. However, at some point in history, we were separated from God because of sin... because someone disobeyed God, and now we have the chronic disease called sin that we just can't seem to stop living in. God and sin don't mix. Sin is bad, God is good. They're opposites, they do NOT live in harmony. THROUGHOUT history, God sent people to tell the world about this separation, this judgement because of it, and about God's plan to reconcile us back together because... we need him, and he loves us (ever been apart from someone who love more than your own life?). SO, God made a way: Jesus, his Son- begotten, not made. God in fleshy, bony form. Jesus was born onto this earth, grew up and lived a life with the same kind of temptation, trials, suffering, etc. that you and I do (Note: don't even try taking the stance that Jesus basically went around preaching all the time/how much trouble can you get in? I work at a church. I know first hand that being a minister doesn't make it easier not to sin). Anyway, point is, God needed something to serve his perfect justice. He wasn't going to condemn everyone he's ever created and will ever create to hell, so he made a sacrifice... just like everyone else had up to this point in history, to atone for their sins and make them obsolete. Cue: Jesus. He died a horrific death. Slowly executed. While he was still alive, whipped and beaten beyond recognition, nails driven through his hands, through his feet (really now, think about that...), and THEN was HUNG from those nails on a cross. Ew. Supernaturally, every sin that ever was or will be was laid on him in that moment of agony. That is what our sin looks like. *I* can't even look at it. It's hard for me to read about it. So yeah. He dies. But he isn't dead forever. He's resurrected by God himself. That's the big part. That sin was laid in the grave where it belongs. It has no part in life. That act of surrender, death, and resurrection is what God used to make us all right again. He had a perfect sacrifice to satisfy his perfect justice so that we did not have to experience it. That is what being a Christian is. Being a Christian, there must be a REASON why we wanted to be reconciled to God in the first place. With all the pain and suffering there is in this world, there's got to be more. There is. This life is only a shadow of what a life in eternity will be like. I don't say that like we'll be a bunch of little spirits floating around. It will be a life, really. So, here is the breakdown: God created us to live with him forever because of his generous nature, wanted to share his own joy and glory- God called this creation "man." He didn't want to make us little robots that were FORCED to live with him forever, so he gave man his own will. Man was tempted and gave into that temptation. That kind of ruined it all. NOW, what WAS the plan to live happily ever after IMMEDIATELY would have to be extended a little until a way was made to make us all one again. POINT: This life is pointless without God because it was God who gave us life for a purpose in the first place. POINT: If this life really is all about God and being in relationship with God, what do we spend ourselves for on worldly things (things that will not last, that are not of God)? Why do we waste our lives? I asked these questions this morning in church. I was answered this evening in church.
Last week's message @ Savannah Christian's Late Church was based on the parable of the Prodigal Son. Very basically, God is concerned about what is lost to him just like you would be concerned and upset about something when it is lost to you- tell me, how much do you hate it when your keys are lost? SERIOUSLY. I experienced that this morning. We look feverishly for these lost things, and our hearts are focused on what is lost. It is the same with God and his people, and so it should be with us being concerned for what is lost. For me, that translates to: "Lindsay, what have you been focusing on? Has your heart been truly after God's heart? What have you done to get those lost people found? How have you spent your life for God's sake? Because you know God is all that matters in this life, that you wouldn't even have life if it weren't for God... that God's will is your ultimate goal..."
This week, the message was based on the next chapter, Luke 16. It was funny because as I read it, I realized just how much I did NOT understand it. I thought I did, at random times. This is tonight summarized: Your trustworthiness in THIS life determines what you will be entrusted with in heaven. Okay. So. I'm just going to semi-quote the preacher/my notes: This guy in the story has this little window of time to manage something that will soon be worthless to him to secure for himself something long term. The guy in this story is basically worried/freaking out because he is losing his job and thinks he has no other options. So he goes to settle his accounts, and while he is basically stealing from and gypping his boss, he cuts down the debts of those in his area of management and begins to build relationships with these people so that if he needed to, they would be willing to accept him into their homes, help him out, etc. This guy is praised by his master (who just fired him) for being so shrewd. Jesus is saying that people "of the light" need to learn about management from people of the world (NOT to be thieves). This life is short, eternity is forever. How do we leverage what we have been given now- like the manager had been given a short time to manage his accounts - for the future? If everything is God's, how are we managing what we've been given? How are we spending our lives? Are we living in the faith that God's Word is true and the promises therein, as well? If that is the belief, then how actively are we living out that faith? It is wise to invest in eternity. It is important to manage what you have been given in this life for God's purpose and glory- for his heart, for the lost. God will provide for us and take care of us. He is working all things for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purposes. I am thankful for this life- every part of it- the joys and the pain, and I desire to manage well what I have been given in this life.
"Take the principle and reality of eternity and bring it to God." I want to feel like God has entrusted me with something. I have mismanaged many accounts in the past, and it is my prayer that I would see when God is showing me all I have been given, and areas that I need to better manage. It is important that I spend my life for the sake of the One who made me, loves me, sustains me. It is important because I love God, too.
-Lindsay
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