What would Jesus do? It’s such a clichéd phrase that can seemingly mean nothing to those touting bracelets with the letter WWJD embossed on the silver plating. Like for example, when Gary and I were in Florida, we attended a vacation time-share presentation; this one as high-pressure as they come. The first fellow (the soft-sell guy) was wearing one such bracelet. We talked about it, him and me. I asked him how he could wear his faith like that but work at a job that encourages people to go into debt for the luxury item of a vacation/year. Needless to say, we didn’t buy into the time-share and after several pressured moments, we were finally given our free passes to SeaWorld and we were on our way.
It’s the hypocrisy of the question not being lived out that rubs me the wrong way. If you’re going to ask the question, find out the answer and then do it, otherwise it’s just another meaningless cliché. Such is the place I find myself. A friend recently challenged me by relating a dialogue she herself had with God. “Do you want to be like Paul, who preached ‘right living’? Or do you want to be like Jesus, who loved mercy?”
I’m not big on mercy. Mercy is difficult for me. Anytime I’ve ever taken spiritual gift aptitude tests, Mercy always falls at One (which is being generous) or most likely, a Zero. BUT just because I don’t score high on an aptitude for mercy, doesn’t give me an out. Philippians 2:5 says to me that my attitude should be like Jesus. Jesus’ ministry was personified by acts of love and mercy.
I have somebody in my life who is needy. We all have somebody in our lives who are needy, so I know everyone can relate at some level. Not only is this person who is in my life needy, but also prideful, self-absorbed, and unteachable. And, this person requires assistance – assistance which I am able to provide. But I don’t want to, at least not just help. Every Teacher inclination in me wants to help and teach, but the present situation isn’t a teaching moment, it only calls for help. So I find myself at a crux, asking myself the question, “What would Jesus do?”
Scripture tells us because we have received [mercy], we should in turn also freely give [mercy] (add-in mine). Scripture tells us that God loves a cheerful giver. Okay, I understand that part. If the situation calls for giving, I’m supposed to give freely, without exception and without strings. But, is giving formulaic? In other words, if I give this time, should I give next time (and there is always a next time)?
So actually, the question for me is, “What is merciful in this situation, for this time?” Unfortunately, Scripture doesn’t give us a formula to follow each time. Instead, through Jesus’ example, we see mercy displayed in many different ways. Take for example, the methods Jesus used to heal blindness – he spit on their eyes, spoke healing, touched their eyes, created a mud paste and covered the eyes – too many ways to come up with a mathematical formula to say if you do A+B+C, it will equal X. Even in the OT, David lost a battle because he did what he had done before, thinking there was a formula and he didn’t consult God for his next move.
Likewise, I need to consult Jesus each and every time this situation presents itself. And to do that, (and really make sure I’m hearing his voice, and not my own), I need to rely on Jesus for my every move, particularly as it pertains to this person because what I want to do, flies in the face of mercy.
O Lord, one of my favourite songs right now starts with the lyrics, “I try to hear from heaven but I talk the whole time,” I pray that isn’t true for me. I want to listen to your voice and do what you would do. I don’t want to act as worldly wisdom would counsel me, which operates on a system of checks & balances, but I want to offer mercy, as you have offered me mercy. Your word says, “Call to me and I will answer you” and “if any of you lack wisdom, you should ask God for it who gives generously to all without finding fault.” I need you to answer me, I need wisdom and then I need courage to do what you ask me to do. I pray this in the name of Jesus who intercedes for me. Amen
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Genesis Questions & Discussion
In the Creation story, God said, "Let there be light," on day 1. What light is God referring? The sun, moon and stars weren't created until the 4th day and since God is light and he isn't created, what is Scripture saying?
Johnny Cisneros reply:
You’re right. In summary, God himself is the source of the light, but not in the sense that he’s created himself. One commentator writes, “The source of creation’s first “light” is not specifically stated. Since it is not tied to a luminating body such as the sun (vv. 15–16), the text implies that the “light” has its source in God himself. This is the thought of the poet who depicts the Creator wrapped in light as a garment (Ps 104:2) and the light witnessed by the prophet at the epiphany of the Lord (Hab 3:3b–4). The prophets and apocalyptists attributed to the coming “day of the Lord” terrestrial and cosmic transformations when the eschatological light will have its source in the Lord, not in the sun or moon. Like the luminous cloud of God, witnessed by Israel in the wilderness and in the tabernacle (cf. Exod 24:15–18 w/40:38), this primal light indicated the divine presence” ...
And,
“The dark world was lit up when God said, ‘Let there be light’. More precisely, day was distinguished from night by the creation of light. Light is a form of energy and may be produced in many different ways, not just by sun and stars (which were not created until the fourth day). Contemporary cosmologists say that the universe began with a hot big bang, which must have made a very bright light. Order began to appear and replace dark chaos” (New American Commentary: Genesis, 145, 153).
I'm not sure if the response helps my understanding...would I be incorrect to conclude that God said, "Let there be light," to set himself apart (and above) from darkness. In essence God was establishing his preeminence over all creation by first imparting his 'lightness' that will proceed anything else.
That's not to say that God was "creating" himself, but rather he is Alpha and Omega, beginning and the last. On the second day of Creation, God separated the waters from the air, and then on day 3, he created land thus containing the dominion the 'waters' had previously had over the unformed earth. From what I've learned from Dr. Michael Heiser, the 'waters', also translated Tehom allows for the pre-Creation Chaos Theory. God gave the Tehom (or twisting serpent) parameters with which it/he/she can operate. That is until the end when Revelations 21:1 state that the 'Sea' (Tehom) will be no more.
On day 6, God creates wild beasts and livestock. Why is there a distinction for livestock? As I understand livestock, they are domesticated animals for the purpose of food and clothing, two things that are unnecessary in the Garden of Eden. In fact, the introduction of meat for food isn't until after the flood.
Johnny Cisneros reply:
Some take livestock specifically as “cattle” while other take it generally as “domesticated animals”. You make a good point that the distinction seems unnecessary considering the needs in the Garden. Here’s an option: domesticated animals could also be used for travel (told to fill the earth), shelter (skin), tools bone/intestines), and general agricultural task (i.e. carrying, pulling, plowing), not just food and clothing. In the broadest sense, domesticated animals are animals that can live in close proximity to humanity, and are useful, and pose no imminent threat to humans (again excluding the option of food and clothing).
Again, I'm not sure that the answer satisfies my question. As I think more about it, perhaps the distinction in the wording is a clue as to God's plan for redemption even from Creation. I understand the point you are making by saying that domesticated animals had/have more uses than for diet. However, aside from travel, which God say to fill the whole earth at the same time he created Adam and Eve, the other animal uses indicate a world where there is death, decay and toil. All of which didn't exist at the time of Creation. There would be no reason to distinguish between livestock and wild animals because all of creation were vegans, with no predator and prey.
Secondly, while tending to the garden for Adam would have been a piece of cake because at that point, there were not weeds, or uneven, hard ground, so tools derived from animals would not have been necessary.
And...in the garden, prior to the Fall, death was not present and nothing wilted away, not by choice and not because of old age, so your response to say that the domesticated animals (bones/intestines) would have been possible without death occurring first.
But, I can answer my own question by saying that God foreknew that Adam and Eve would sin and so he set up provisions for them, even in the Creation story. If I am correct, then this is profound to me because I have long struggled with believing God that his Will has been in place and functioning from the beginning of time. I've struggled/questioned that perhaps God had a Plan A, but because Adam and Eve sinned, then he had to implement Plan B. That kind of theology flies in the face of an Almighty God.
Why are Cain and Abel making a sacrifice? It isn't until after Seth has children that the Bible records that men began to call on the name of the LORD, so if they aren't calling on the LORD, why sacrifice?
Johnny Cisneros reply:
Short answer: Making a “sacrifice” has some overlap (cf. Genesis 12:8) with “calling on the name of the LORD”, but the two are not synonymous.
a) Why a sacrifice? Is that what they are doing here?
This is better understood as an “offering” rather than a “sacrifice”. All major English translations take the Hebrew word minhah as an “offering” (NIV; ESV; NASB; NET; NLT). Offerings can be made for reasons other than atonement for sin. For example, in Leviticus, the grain offering and the fellowship offering do not deal with sin. Here in Genesis 4:3-5, Cain and Abel make an offering as a gift or tribute as an offering God as a superior, more specifically, as king. Notice that they were not prescribed to make an offering to God. So offering here shouldn’t be understood has an offering for sin.
b) What is “calling on the name of the Lord”? Is that synonymous with offering?
“Calling upon the name of the LORD” can mean “to praise or give thanks to the Lord”. In the most general sense, name of the Lord was invoked, called on, or prayed to. Some commentators take this as God was called upon as the LORD. The fact that the narrator does mention “calling on the Lord” in Cain and Abel narrative may suggest that prayer and offering/ritual existed independently of each other. Perhaps to some
degree Cain and Abel, though outside of Eden, still enjoyed an interaction with God similar to their parents (compare God’s interaction with both parties). Then, after the taking of life (Gen. 4:1-15), humanity “calls on the name of the LORD” (v. 26). That comment by narrator may speak to the origins of prayer since in Genesis 4 mentions the origins of other things (e.g. farming [v. 20], music [v. 21], and metalworks [v. 22].
Bibliography
Gordon J. Wenham. Genesis 1-11, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, 2002).
Nahum, Sarna. Genesis. The JPS Torah Commentary (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society,
1989).
William D. Reyburn and Euan Fry. A Handbook on Genesis. UBS Handbook Series (New York:
United Bible Societies, 1997).
Johnny Cisneros reply:
You’re right. In summary, God himself is the source of the light, but not in the sense that he’s created himself. One commentator writes, “The source of creation’s first “light” is not specifically stated. Since it is not tied to a luminating body such as the sun (vv. 15–16), the text implies that the “light” has its source in God himself. This is the thought of the poet who depicts the Creator wrapped in light as a garment (Ps 104:2) and the light witnessed by the prophet at the epiphany of the Lord (Hab 3:3b–4). The prophets and apocalyptists attributed to the coming “day of the Lord” terrestrial and cosmic transformations when the eschatological light will have its source in the Lord, not in the sun or moon. Like the luminous cloud of God, witnessed by Israel in the wilderness and in the tabernacle (cf. Exod 24:15–18 w/40:38), this primal light indicated the divine presence” ...
And,
“The dark world was lit up when God said, ‘Let there be light’. More precisely, day was distinguished from night by the creation of light. Light is a form of energy and may be produced in many different ways, not just by sun and stars (which were not created until the fourth day). Contemporary cosmologists say that the universe began with a hot big bang, which must have made a very bright light. Order began to appear and replace dark chaos” (New American Commentary: Genesis, 145, 153).
I'm not sure if the response helps my understanding...would I be incorrect to conclude that God said, "Let there be light," to set himself apart (and above) from darkness. In essence God was establishing his preeminence over all creation by first imparting his 'lightness' that will proceed anything else.
That's not to say that God was "creating" himself, but rather he is Alpha and Omega, beginning and the last. On the second day of Creation, God separated the waters from the air, and then on day 3, he created land thus containing the dominion the 'waters' had previously had over the unformed earth. From what I've learned from Dr. Michael Heiser, the 'waters', also translated Tehom allows for the pre-Creation Chaos Theory. God gave the Tehom (or twisting serpent) parameters with which it/he/she can operate. That is until the end when Revelations 21:1 state that the 'Sea' (Tehom) will be no more.
On day 6, God creates wild beasts and livestock. Why is there a distinction for livestock? As I understand livestock, they are domesticated animals for the purpose of food and clothing, two things that are unnecessary in the Garden of Eden. In fact, the introduction of meat for food isn't until after the flood.
Johnny Cisneros reply:
Some take livestock specifically as “cattle” while other take it generally as “domesticated animals”. You make a good point that the distinction seems unnecessary considering the needs in the Garden. Here’s an option: domesticated animals could also be used for travel (told to fill the earth), shelter (skin), tools bone/intestines), and general agricultural task (i.e. carrying, pulling, plowing), not just food and clothing. In the broadest sense, domesticated animals are animals that can live in close proximity to humanity, and are useful, and pose no imminent threat to humans (again excluding the option of food and clothing).
Again, I'm not sure that the answer satisfies my question. As I think more about it, perhaps the distinction in the wording is a clue as to God's plan for redemption even from Creation. I understand the point you are making by saying that domesticated animals had/have more uses than for diet. However, aside from travel, which God say to fill the whole earth at the same time he created Adam and Eve, the other animal uses indicate a world where there is death, decay and toil. All of which didn't exist at the time of Creation. There would be no reason to distinguish between livestock and wild animals because all of creation were vegans, with no predator and prey.
Secondly, while tending to the garden for Adam would have been a piece of cake because at that point, there were not weeds, or uneven, hard ground, so tools derived from animals would not have been necessary.
And...in the garden, prior to the Fall, death was not present and nothing wilted away, not by choice and not because of old age, so your response to say that the domesticated animals (bones/intestines) would have been possible without death occurring first.
But, I can answer my own question by saying that God foreknew that Adam and Eve would sin and so he set up provisions for them, even in the Creation story. If I am correct, then this is profound to me because I have long struggled with believing God that his Will has been in place and functioning from the beginning of time. I've struggled/questioned that perhaps God had a Plan A, but because Adam and Eve sinned, then he had to implement Plan B. That kind of theology flies in the face of an Almighty God.
Why are Cain and Abel making a sacrifice? It isn't until after Seth has children that the Bible records that men began to call on the name of the LORD, so if they aren't calling on the LORD, why sacrifice?
Johnny Cisneros reply:
Short answer: Making a “sacrifice” has some overlap (cf. Genesis 12:8) with “calling on the name of the LORD”, but the two are not synonymous.
a) Why a sacrifice? Is that what they are doing here?
This is better understood as an “offering” rather than a “sacrifice”. All major English translations take the Hebrew word minhah as an “offering” (NIV; ESV; NASB; NET; NLT). Offerings can be made for reasons other than atonement for sin. For example, in Leviticus, the grain offering and the fellowship offering do not deal with sin. Here in Genesis 4:3-5, Cain and Abel make an offering as a gift or tribute as an offering God as a superior, more specifically, as king. Notice that they were not prescribed to make an offering to God. So offering here shouldn’t be understood has an offering for sin.
b) What is “calling on the name of the Lord”? Is that synonymous with offering?
“Calling upon the name of the LORD” can mean “to praise or give thanks to the Lord”. In the most general sense, name of the Lord was invoked, called on, or prayed to. Some commentators take this as God was called upon as the LORD. The fact that the narrator does mention “calling on the Lord” in Cain and Abel narrative may suggest that prayer and offering/ritual existed independently of each other. Perhaps to some
degree Cain and Abel, though outside of Eden, still enjoyed an interaction with God similar to their parents (compare God’s interaction with both parties). Then, after the taking of life (Gen. 4:1-15), humanity “calls on the name of the LORD” (v. 26). That comment by narrator may speak to the origins of prayer since in Genesis 4 mentions the origins of other things (e.g. farming [v. 20], music [v. 21], and metalworks [v. 22].
Bibliography
Gordon J. Wenham. Genesis 1-11, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, 2002).
Nahum, Sarna. Genesis. The JPS Torah Commentary (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society,
1989).
William D. Reyburn and Euan Fry. A Handbook on Genesis. UBS Handbook Series (New York:
United Bible Societies, 1997).
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Genesis
I’ve probably read through Genesis 100 hundred times, if I’ve read it once. Whenever I resolve to myself to be more fastidious and diligent about Scripture reading and want to complete the reading of the entire Scripture, I inevitably start at the beginning, you know, it seems logical. I have to say, I never get bored of the narrative of Genesis. In this most recent reading (and corresponding 10-week Beth Moore study on the Patriarchs), I have to admit that I was completely caught up in the stories and the human characters. Although, not as absent-minded as my girlfriend who was reading along with me, who, while reading the story of Abraham, glanced ahead to the chapter/section titles and was momentarily devastated by the one that read, “Sarah Dies”. As if we didn’t already know that, but like my friend, I too feel the characters are real; they seem alive and well, personable.
When something becomes so familiar to us, it’s so easy for us to miss the significance and lessons therein. The writer in Hebrews writes that the Word is living and active, and as such there is always something more to learn. I always have to approach familiar Scripture with such a mindset and so with fresh insight, I’ve come away with a few main ideas that have been rolling around in my mind. As Eugene Petersen describes, I’ve been gnawing on the Scripture like a dog gnaws on a bone. The main thoughts are:
• God introduces himself to humanity
• Man’s propensity toward evil is not gradual
• Hang on until you receive the blessing
• Godliness is not generational
All I Ever Needed to Know about God, I Learned in Genesis
Several years ago, Robert Flughum wrote a book of proverbs and wisdom, titled, All I Ever Needed To Know I Learned in Kindergarten. It was a best seller and all the hardest people to buy for on your Christmas received a copy of the book that year. After the popularity of the first book, Robert Flughum naturally saw the financial potential in the franchise and subsequently extended his brand to include specific lessons learned from the dog, or cat, or Sunday School teacher, etc. Without trying to oversimplify an infinite God, we can borrow the title to say, “All I ever needed to know about God, I learned in Genesis.” Genesis is the beginning of the story we can know about God. He shows us his character, sometimes directly and sometimes we infer God’s character by the way he interacts with his people.
First, we learn that before anything, God was. I needed to pause for a moment to let that sink in again. God was, God is, and God will forever be. There was never a time, nor will there ever be when God isn’t or wasn’t. The first verse in Genesis starts, “In the beginning, God…” God spoke everything into being and therefore, God is before all things, including me, including the person(s) I am having difficulty getting along. This perspective calms me, because like many women/mothers/wives, I really feel like I’m the one that keeps it all together and running smoothly. When I can step back, and remember that God was before me, I can let go a little (yes, a little – I am still learning, after all).
Second, God is not bothered by chaos. To be sure, the beginning being described in chapter one, verse one is not the beginning, but a beginning, namely beginning of the world as we know it. From other references in Scripture, we know that angels were already created and were with God as he created our world, and presumably Lucifer’s expulsion from heaven happened at a time before Genesis 1:1. So there was evil already and a distinction between holy and unholy existed before the creation of humanity. But here’s the kicker for me, Genesis 1:31 says, “God saw all that he had made and it was very good.” Really? Everything? All of it? Including Lucifer? It’s hard to understand, and indeed I don’t. I simply file it away under the section, “God’s ways are higher than my ways”. Just because I don’t understand, doesn’t mean it’s not true. Humanity, myself included, try to eradicate evil, as something that wasn’t part of God plan. Christian believers are particularly prone to want to explain evil away. We desperately want everything to tie up in a nice little bow, because we justify that God’s will and plan wouldn’t have included **whisper** ‘other gods’.
In the ancient world, great significance was given to names. To know someone’s name, meant you knew their character. This theme plays out again and again throughout Scripture and I’ll pick it up again later, but for know, I’m speaking only about God. He introduces us to several of his names in the book of Genesis and each one is special and significant. Beth Moore says that in a culture of many gods with one name, God introduces us to himself, who is one God with many names. The first name besides LORD (covenant Jehovah) that is introduced is El Elyon, the God Most High.
Until now recently, I haven’t spent a lot of thought on why God would introduce his first name as the God Most High. Most High of what? Since Scripture records it, then it’s worth examining. To be the ‘most’ of anything, means there must be something to make a comparison. And following the thought, we go back what happened prior to Genesis 1:1, where Lucifer wanted to be like the Most High and thereafter he was expulsed because there can only be one Most High. Thus enter chaos, as we call it, but God said all that he was made was good. Throughout Scripture, God is continually affirming that there is no one before him – he is the Most High, and so we have nothing to fear. Our God is the Most High God, all others fall under his authority and ‘highness’. We don’t have to be afraid to admit that there are other gods, lower case ‘g’ because there is only one Most High God, upper case ‘g’.
How does it play out in our own realities? A good friend has had a tumultuous relationship with a man, whom she eventually married. Shortly after her marriage, they were separated. Both of them involved need transformation and as long as they are open to God’s leading, they are moving forward, although separately. Their church rallied around and supported them in counselling, but the powers that be in the church were very persuasive about expressing their own opinions regarding how reconciliation would look and what form it would be. By doing what they are doing, no matter how well-intentioned they were, they limit God, as if he isn’t the Most High God. This example is very, very fresh and my friend and her husband are still living separately but working on fixing themselves and therefore the relationship, it just doesn’t look very traditional.
Third, God is detailed and orderly. I, myself, tend to lean more towards order than all out chaos so I’m encouraged by God’s sense of organization. There was definite order and a pattern to the creation of the world. It’s like when I clean the house, first I have to ‘clean up to clean up’. I have to create the space necessary to fill in the gaps and get down to the details. God’s creation was similar; first he created light, then sky and waters, then land, then time, then filled the air and waters. All of that organization was in preparation to host living creatures and the crown of his creation – man, who bears the image of God.
Four, God is personally interested in humanity and faithfully and relentlessly pursues a relationship with humanity. In chapter 3, Genesis records that God came into the garden in the cool of the day, looking for Adam and Eve. I have to pause right now, because I’m a little emotional at the thought. It is too wonderful for me. God is too wonderful for me. God entered the garden for the purpose of communicating with Adam & Eve, after the Fall. Sin has consequences but doesn’t prevent God from seeking us.
This pattern of God pursuing humanity is modelled again and again in the book of Genesis. He collected Noah from among his peers, he signalled out Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He even saved Lot more than once. Each one of these characters are a lesson of what not to do at many turns in their life, but God’s pursuit of us is not about our ability to do good. No, instead, the gospel is that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, so that we might have perfect fellowship with the Father.
As part of his pursuit for us, God already put into place a plan that would restore full fellowship and to reverse the consequence of the Fall. Within the curse, God provides a little insight into his ultimate plan, that eventually, the serpent (i.e. Satan) will be crushed on the head by the offspring from [a] woman. God affirms his plan for mankind first by the blessing he gives Abraham in chapter 12 and also by the covenant he cuts with Abraham in chapter 15.
Closely related to point four is this, God is always present with his chosen ones. Jacob testifies, “Surely the LORD was in this place, and I was not aware of it.” God is so good, that we don’t even have to acknowledge or know his presence for it to be true. Later Jacob (I love Jacob, he’s my favourite character in the book of Genesis), testifies again, this time to God’s faithfulness, “God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm.” Joseph’s narrative also records the presence of God with him. Wouldn’t that be the only way to explain how Joseph was able to restrain himself at the hand of Potiphar’s wife?
Speaking of Joseph, I see a parallel between his dilemma with Potiphar’s wife and the Adam & Eve’s ill-fated decision in the garden of Eden, except this time we see a different decision. In the garden, Adam & Eve were given access to every kind of tree, with the exception of the two trees in the middle. The temptation was too great, and they succumbed to the beauty of the tree and the delectability of the fruit. In parallel, Joseph was given everything in Potiphar’s house except the wife. Joseph makes an impassionate reply to her sexual advances and yet, in contrast to Adam & Eve, he acknowledges to act on his desire would be a sin against God. Don’t tell me he wasn’t the least bit interested. A young hormonal man, who’s just been offered “no strings attached” sexual pleasure? Yeah, you can be sure, he was tempted. The very fact that Joseph was able to say no to the temptation, gives us hope that we can also resist temptation.
Propensity Toward Evil
Not only does Genesis provide insight about God and his character, we also gain some self-awareness. For those that would argue and say that humanity’s decline is gradual, hasn’t read Genesis lately. Cain and Abel were second generation, and Cain progressed toward murder at the first sign of trouble. How much more sudden can it be? Murder? That’s pretty much the top of the list of heinous crimes. Also among the top, sexual deviance would also rank up there and Genesis records it all – rape, homosexuality, incest, fornication.
Humanity’s propensity toward ungodly behaviour is immense. Paul is correct when he writes in Romans, “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, my sinful nature.” Since the Fall, we are born under the dominion of sin (and death). In the case of Adam & Eve, they chose to do evil, but we who have come after them, must choose to do good, and that only by the power of the Holy Spirit. The good news is the gospel, in which God had a plan that would, and indeed it did, break the dominion of sin. Although humanity is strongly conditioned towards sin, God, who is the Most High (higher than the dominion of sin), has offered an alternative.
Hang On Until the Blessing
If there is anything I’d want to proclaim to the other believers who are losing or who have lost faith it would be this, “Hang onto until the blessing comes.” Oh, that we would have the tenacity of Jacob, the faith of Abraham and Isaac, the long-suffering of Job and the love of Christ, to be able to see the promise of blessing through to completion.
I believe with all my heart that God is faithful. He can and will do all that he promised to for Abraham, which was to bless him so that through him all peoples would be blessed. Last time I checked, all peoples included me and anyone else I know. If there is a blessing, there is no way in hell (and I do mean that literally), that I am going to purposely do anything to jeopardize it, and yet, all around that’s exactly what I see happening.
Boo hoo. Life is hard, get over it. A friend tells me that she doesn’t know how to love her husband, that he’s impossible to love. She’ll be better off without him, and as for the children, they would be better off too, without the constant negative influence of their father. She tells me that it wasn’t supposed to be this way. My first instinct is to smack her upside the head, but thankfully that’s not what I do. Instead, I counsel her and tell her there is a third choice and that would be to stay and watch God do a miraculous thing because that’s what he does. He takes things that are dead and brings them to life. He breathes his own spirit, ruah into the thing. And then it not only revives, but thrives.
I know because God did that for me and my marriage. I still can’t believe God put peace, joy and love into a marriage that was all but destroyed. It wasn’t without personal injury or pain, but I held on. I didn’t let go, I thought to myself, “If only we could make it to the 7th year, then God would give us rest.” And he did. It still brings tears to my eyes, remembering the pain but living the goodness of his blessing.
Jacob wrestled with God, and afterward, when he had overcome, yakol, he held on and begged the angel to not go until he had blessed him. Prior to Jacob begging for a blessing, God touched his hip, which caused Jacob to have a physical reminder of the pain he went through to get to the blessing. So often, too often, people let go in the midst of their pain. As if they alone are the only ones that God meant not to bless. The blessing is not whether or not we experience or exist with pain, but it’s found in our new identity, just like for Jacob. His blessing was a new name. I just finished writing about the significance names had in the ancient world. Jacob means deceiver – not exactly the kind of legacy you’d want to carry around with you. But, then God gave him a new name, Isra-El (emphasis mine). It wasn’t an accident that in part, he is identified with God, El. Israel was just one man then, but he became a nation that was known as Israel, and God himself said, “When my people, who are called by my name…”
I digress, and went down my own rabbit trail but I just can’t help myself with Scripture – each piece fits seamlessly with another, it’s incredulous to me that more believers aren’t scouring the Word, finding the ways God makes connections throughout Scripture. He is so consistent with himself, nothing is left out.
So, back to the blessing that comes to those who overcome the pain, hold on and wait for the blessing. Why? Oh why? Would anyone let go at the height of the pain? You’ve come this far, you might as well carry it on. Childbirth is painful, but at no point during the labour of my son did I want to quit. No, I knew that there was a purpose to the pain. Likewise with the pain of abuse, addiction, divorce, death – all of it will result in blessing if we hang on long enough. God will bring glory to his name and those that are called by his name will be blessed.
Following after God is not generational
This one causes me a bit more anxiety and unease than the others. Genesis is a sampling of humanity, I see myself in so many aspects of the people are make up the stories, so when I see how a generation that comes after a God follower fully & completely turn away from God…well, it makes me nervous for my son and grandchildren that will come after him. The most intriguing example is Abraham’s sons, Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael is considered the father of Islam and Isaac was the chosen one. Isaac had two sons and one was chosen, the other went his own way. Jacob had 12 sons and most of them turned away in his lifetime but over the generations, all but one turned away from God. Only those that God chose followed after him.
I suppose it’s another one of those thoughts that I have to file under, “God ways are higher than my ways”
Genesis opens up a whole host of other questions and themes that I’m on the lookout for:
• Holy War, the dissension among brothers
• How God continually chooses the younger over the older
• Names of God
• How and why God chooses to change the names of people
• How God continues to restore what was lost in Eden
The journey is just beginning and presently, I have the rush of adrenaline I always have at the beginning of something new. Oh, I pray that in this, I will hang on until I receive my reward, my inheritance, which is Christ. I want more, I want more, I want more.
When something becomes so familiar to us, it’s so easy for us to miss the significance and lessons therein. The writer in Hebrews writes that the Word is living and active, and as such there is always something more to learn. I always have to approach familiar Scripture with such a mindset and so with fresh insight, I’ve come away with a few main ideas that have been rolling around in my mind. As Eugene Petersen describes, I’ve been gnawing on the Scripture like a dog gnaws on a bone. The main thoughts are:
• God introduces himself to humanity
• Man’s propensity toward evil is not gradual
• Hang on until you receive the blessing
• Godliness is not generational
All I Ever Needed to Know about God, I Learned in Genesis
Several years ago, Robert Flughum wrote a book of proverbs and wisdom, titled, All I Ever Needed To Know I Learned in Kindergarten. It was a best seller and all the hardest people to buy for on your Christmas received a copy of the book that year. After the popularity of the first book, Robert Flughum naturally saw the financial potential in the franchise and subsequently extended his brand to include specific lessons learned from the dog, or cat, or Sunday School teacher, etc. Without trying to oversimplify an infinite God, we can borrow the title to say, “All I ever needed to know about God, I learned in Genesis.” Genesis is the beginning of the story we can know about God. He shows us his character, sometimes directly and sometimes we infer God’s character by the way he interacts with his people.
First, we learn that before anything, God was. I needed to pause for a moment to let that sink in again. God was, God is, and God will forever be. There was never a time, nor will there ever be when God isn’t or wasn’t. The first verse in Genesis starts, “In the beginning, God…” God spoke everything into being and therefore, God is before all things, including me, including the person(s) I am having difficulty getting along. This perspective calms me, because like many women/mothers/wives, I really feel like I’m the one that keeps it all together and running smoothly. When I can step back, and remember that God was before me, I can let go a little (yes, a little – I am still learning, after all).
Second, God is not bothered by chaos. To be sure, the beginning being described in chapter one, verse one is not the beginning, but a beginning, namely beginning of the world as we know it. From other references in Scripture, we know that angels were already created and were with God as he created our world, and presumably Lucifer’s expulsion from heaven happened at a time before Genesis 1:1. So there was evil already and a distinction between holy and unholy existed before the creation of humanity. But here’s the kicker for me, Genesis 1:31 says, “God saw all that he had made and it was very good.” Really? Everything? All of it? Including Lucifer? It’s hard to understand, and indeed I don’t. I simply file it away under the section, “God’s ways are higher than my ways”. Just because I don’t understand, doesn’t mean it’s not true. Humanity, myself included, try to eradicate evil, as something that wasn’t part of God plan. Christian believers are particularly prone to want to explain evil away. We desperately want everything to tie up in a nice little bow, because we justify that God’s will and plan wouldn’t have included **whisper** ‘other gods’.
In the ancient world, great significance was given to names. To know someone’s name, meant you knew their character. This theme plays out again and again throughout Scripture and I’ll pick it up again later, but for know, I’m speaking only about God. He introduces us to several of his names in the book of Genesis and each one is special and significant. Beth Moore says that in a culture of many gods with one name, God introduces us to himself, who is one God with many names. The first name besides LORD (covenant Jehovah) that is introduced is El Elyon, the God Most High.
Until now recently, I haven’t spent a lot of thought on why God would introduce his first name as the God Most High. Most High of what? Since Scripture records it, then it’s worth examining. To be the ‘most’ of anything, means there must be something to make a comparison. And following the thought, we go back what happened prior to Genesis 1:1, where Lucifer wanted to be like the Most High and thereafter he was expulsed because there can only be one Most High. Thus enter chaos, as we call it, but God said all that he was made was good. Throughout Scripture, God is continually affirming that there is no one before him – he is the Most High, and so we have nothing to fear. Our God is the Most High God, all others fall under his authority and ‘highness’. We don’t have to be afraid to admit that there are other gods, lower case ‘g’ because there is only one Most High God, upper case ‘g’.
How does it play out in our own realities? A good friend has had a tumultuous relationship with a man, whom she eventually married. Shortly after her marriage, they were separated. Both of them involved need transformation and as long as they are open to God’s leading, they are moving forward, although separately. Their church rallied around and supported them in counselling, but the powers that be in the church were very persuasive about expressing their own opinions regarding how reconciliation would look and what form it would be. By doing what they are doing, no matter how well-intentioned they were, they limit God, as if he isn’t the Most High God. This example is very, very fresh and my friend and her husband are still living separately but working on fixing themselves and therefore the relationship, it just doesn’t look very traditional.
Third, God is detailed and orderly. I, myself, tend to lean more towards order than all out chaos so I’m encouraged by God’s sense of organization. There was definite order and a pattern to the creation of the world. It’s like when I clean the house, first I have to ‘clean up to clean up’. I have to create the space necessary to fill in the gaps and get down to the details. God’s creation was similar; first he created light, then sky and waters, then land, then time, then filled the air and waters. All of that organization was in preparation to host living creatures and the crown of his creation – man, who bears the image of God.
Four, God is personally interested in humanity and faithfully and relentlessly pursues a relationship with humanity. In chapter 3, Genesis records that God came into the garden in the cool of the day, looking for Adam and Eve. I have to pause right now, because I’m a little emotional at the thought. It is too wonderful for me. God is too wonderful for me. God entered the garden for the purpose of communicating with Adam & Eve, after the Fall. Sin has consequences but doesn’t prevent God from seeking us.
This pattern of God pursuing humanity is modelled again and again in the book of Genesis. He collected Noah from among his peers, he signalled out Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He even saved Lot more than once. Each one of these characters are a lesson of what not to do at many turns in their life, but God’s pursuit of us is not about our ability to do good. No, instead, the gospel is that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, so that we might have perfect fellowship with the Father.
As part of his pursuit for us, God already put into place a plan that would restore full fellowship and to reverse the consequence of the Fall. Within the curse, God provides a little insight into his ultimate plan, that eventually, the serpent (i.e. Satan) will be crushed on the head by the offspring from [a] woman. God affirms his plan for mankind first by the blessing he gives Abraham in chapter 12 and also by the covenant he cuts with Abraham in chapter 15.
Closely related to point four is this, God is always present with his chosen ones. Jacob testifies, “Surely the LORD was in this place, and I was not aware of it.” God is so good, that we don’t even have to acknowledge or know his presence for it to be true. Later Jacob (I love Jacob, he’s my favourite character in the book of Genesis), testifies again, this time to God’s faithfulness, “God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm.” Joseph’s narrative also records the presence of God with him. Wouldn’t that be the only way to explain how Joseph was able to restrain himself at the hand of Potiphar’s wife?
Speaking of Joseph, I see a parallel between his dilemma with Potiphar’s wife and the Adam & Eve’s ill-fated decision in the garden of Eden, except this time we see a different decision. In the garden, Adam & Eve were given access to every kind of tree, with the exception of the two trees in the middle. The temptation was too great, and they succumbed to the beauty of the tree and the delectability of the fruit. In parallel, Joseph was given everything in Potiphar’s house except the wife. Joseph makes an impassionate reply to her sexual advances and yet, in contrast to Adam & Eve, he acknowledges to act on his desire would be a sin against God. Don’t tell me he wasn’t the least bit interested. A young hormonal man, who’s just been offered “no strings attached” sexual pleasure? Yeah, you can be sure, he was tempted. The very fact that Joseph was able to say no to the temptation, gives us hope that we can also resist temptation.
Propensity Toward Evil
Not only does Genesis provide insight about God and his character, we also gain some self-awareness. For those that would argue and say that humanity’s decline is gradual, hasn’t read Genesis lately. Cain and Abel were second generation, and Cain progressed toward murder at the first sign of trouble. How much more sudden can it be? Murder? That’s pretty much the top of the list of heinous crimes. Also among the top, sexual deviance would also rank up there and Genesis records it all – rape, homosexuality, incest, fornication.
Humanity’s propensity toward ungodly behaviour is immense. Paul is correct when he writes in Romans, “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, my sinful nature.” Since the Fall, we are born under the dominion of sin (and death). In the case of Adam & Eve, they chose to do evil, but we who have come after them, must choose to do good, and that only by the power of the Holy Spirit. The good news is the gospel, in which God had a plan that would, and indeed it did, break the dominion of sin. Although humanity is strongly conditioned towards sin, God, who is the Most High (higher than the dominion of sin), has offered an alternative.
Hang On Until the Blessing
If there is anything I’d want to proclaim to the other believers who are losing or who have lost faith it would be this, “Hang onto until the blessing comes.” Oh, that we would have the tenacity of Jacob, the faith of Abraham and Isaac, the long-suffering of Job and the love of Christ, to be able to see the promise of blessing through to completion.
I believe with all my heart that God is faithful. He can and will do all that he promised to for Abraham, which was to bless him so that through him all peoples would be blessed. Last time I checked, all peoples included me and anyone else I know. If there is a blessing, there is no way in hell (and I do mean that literally), that I am going to purposely do anything to jeopardize it, and yet, all around that’s exactly what I see happening.
Boo hoo. Life is hard, get over it. A friend tells me that she doesn’t know how to love her husband, that he’s impossible to love. She’ll be better off without him, and as for the children, they would be better off too, without the constant negative influence of their father. She tells me that it wasn’t supposed to be this way. My first instinct is to smack her upside the head, but thankfully that’s not what I do. Instead, I counsel her and tell her there is a third choice and that would be to stay and watch God do a miraculous thing because that’s what he does. He takes things that are dead and brings them to life. He breathes his own spirit, ruah into the thing. And then it not only revives, but thrives.
I know because God did that for me and my marriage. I still can’t believe God put peace, joy and love into a marriage that was all but destroyed. It wasn’t without personal injury or pain, but I held on. I didn’t let go, I thought to myself, “If only we could make it to the 7th year, then God would give us rest.” And he did. It still brings tears to my eyes, remembering the pain but living the goodness of his blessing.
Jacob wrestled with God, and afterward, when he had overcome, yakol, he held on and begged the angel to not go until he had blessed him. Prior to Jacob begging for a blessing, God touched his hip, which caused Jacob to have a physical reminder of the pain he went through to get to the blessing. So often, too often, people let go in the midst of their pain. As if they alone are the only ones that God meant not to bless. The blessing is not whether or not we experience or exist with pain, but it’s found in our new identity, just like for Jacob. His blessing was a new name. I just finished writing about the significance names had in the ancient world. Jacob means deceiver – not exactly the kind of legacy you’d want to carry around with you. But, then God gave him a new name, Isra-El (emphasis mine). It wasn’t an accident that in part, he is identified with God, El. Israel was just one man then, but he became a nation that was known as Israel, and God himself said, “When my people, who are called by my name…”
I digress, and went down my own rabbit trail but I just can’t help myself with Scripture – each piece fits seamlessly with another, it’s incredulous to me that more believers aren’t scouring the Word, finding the ways God makes connections throughout Scripture. He is so consistent with himself, nothing is left out.
So, back to the blessing that comes to those who overcome the pain, hold on and wait for the blessing. Why? Oh why? Would anyone let go at the height of the pain? You’ve come this far, you might as well carry it on. Childbirth is painful, but at no point during the labour of my son did I want to quit. No, I knew that there was a purpose to the pain. Likewise with the pain of abuse, addiction, divorce, death – all of it will result in blessing if we hang on long enough. God will bring glory to his name and those that are called by his name will be blessed.
Following after God is not generational
This one causes me a bit more anxiety and unease than the others. Genesis is a sampling of humanity, I see myself in so many aspects of the people are make up the stories, so when I see how a generation that comes after a God follower fully & completely turn away from God…well, it makes me nervous for my son and grandchildren that will come after him. The most intriguing example is Abraham’s sons, Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael is considered the father of Islam and Isaac was the chosen one. Isaac had two sons and one was chosen, the other went his own way. Jacob had 12 sons and most of them turned away in his lifetime but over the generations, all but one turned away from God. Only those that God chose followed after him.
I suppose it’s another one of those thoughts that I have to file under, “God ways are higher than my ways”
Genesis opens up a whole host of other questions and themes that I’m on the lookout for:
• Holy War, the dissension among brothers
• How God continually chooses the younger over the older
• Names of God
• How and why God chooses to change the names of people
• How God continues to restore what was lost in Eden
The journey is just beginning and presently, I have the rush of adrenaline I always have at the beginning of something new. Oh, I pray that in this, I will hang on until I receive my reward, my inheritance, which is Christ. I want more, I want more, I want more.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Mommy's only a mobster in her down time...
The addiction started innocently enough (they always do). I saw my friends were playing and I simply clicked on the link to see what it was all about. I didn't mean to start but one thing led to another and now I'm positively, absolutely hooked to Farmville and Mafia Wars on Facebook. It's like my dirty little secret, except it's not so secret. Lots of my [Facebook] friends are playing but you don't realize how many until you get sucked into the vortex yourself. And now I'm exhausted and I know I should be getting ready for bed but I have a compulsion to keep checking my mafia family on Mafia Wars.
The irony of Mafia Wars is not lost on me. In the game, I receive status updates from each player, such as Andrea just iced another mobster, bringing their total body count to 39 and then beside their status is their smiling profile picture posing with their children, as innocent as apple pie. The analogy can easily be used in so many aspects of life.
Most notably, it's the obvious analogy that started me thinking. Isn't it true that we project our innocent self forward and keep our dirty, dark thoughts in the background? And the dark thoughts are not given the light of day, that is, until we realize how many other people are involved in sordid lies and murderous practices and then we let the truth bubble to the surface as if it's normal. Our consciences wearing down so that we think it's normal.
I could go on further but my 20 minutes are up and there is a game that I need to check on.
The irony of Mafia Wars is not lost on me. In the game, I receive status updates from each player, such as Andrea just iced another mobster, bringing their total body count to 39 and then beside their status is their smiling profile picture posing with their children, as innocent as apple pie. The analogy can easily be used in so many aspects of life.
Most notably, it's the obvious analogy that started me thinking. Isn't it true that we project our innocent self forward and keep our dirty, dark thoughts in the background? And the dark thoughts are not given the light of day, that is, until we realize how many other people are involved in sordid lies and murderous practices and then we let the truth bubble to the surface as if it's normal. Our consciences wearing down so that we think it's normal.
I could go on further but my 20 minutes are up and there is a game that I need to check on.
Friday, September 11, 2009
just 20 minutes a day...
It's only 20 minutes, that's my goal. It's not much time but still I can't seem to stick to my own resolve. Twenty minutes a day to write; thoughts and ideas to write about constantly distract me throughout the day and each time I have a passing thought, I think to myself, "I really need to write that down when I get home," and then I return back to home and I don't bother to carve out a mere 20 minutes.
Today is different. Today I'm doing it, I'm really going to write for 20 minutes. The difference is because my routine is "new". New is great. New speaks about a fresh start, a different perspective. New isn't broken and most importantly, New hasn't failed yet.
I started a new Bible Study today, actually it started last night but the homework started today. I'm so excited about it and it makes me want to do better in other areas, like writing for 20 minutes a day. Writing, even for 20 minutes, helps me reflect on what's going on for me, moreover it helps me reflect what spiritual truths are obvious in and around my life.
For example, the whole concept of 'new'. God is always calling his people to a new thing. The Bible Study that I just started is about Abraham, Jacob and Isaac. The story starts with Abraham's call to "Go to a land I will show you...I will make you a great nation (something new), I will make your name great (something new), I will bless you (something new) and I will curse those who curse you (something new), and because of everything new that God promised to do for Abraham, all his descendents after him will be blessed and receive the blessing anew as well. Yea!
So this is new for me - a new study, a new focus for this year and a new resolve.
Time's up.
Today is different. Today I'm doing it, I'm really going to write for 20 minutes. The difference is because my routine is "new". New is great. New speaks about a fresh start, a different perspective. New isn't broken and most importantly, New hasn't failed yet.
I started a new Bible Study today, actually it started last night but the homework started today. I'm so excited about it and it makes me want to do better in other areas, like writing for 20 minutes a day. Writing, even for 20 minutes, helps me reflect on what's going on for me, moreover it helps me reflect what spiritual truths are obvious in and around my life.
For example, the whole concept of 'new'. God is always calling his people to a new thing. The Bible Study that I just started is about Abraham, Jacob and Isaac. The story starts with Abraham's call to "Go to a land I will show you...I will make you a great nation (something new), I will make your name great (something new), I will bless you (something new) and I will curse those who curse you (something new), and because of everything new that God promised to do for Abraham, all his descendents after him will be blessed and receive the blessing anew as well. Yea!
So this is new for me - a new study, a new focus for this year and a new resolve.
Time's up.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Power is in God's Word
Several weeks ago, when Matt Unruh was teaching on a Sunday morning while Bill was away, he challenged Gracepointers by asking, “Do you covet God’s power in your life/ministry?” In my spirit, I answered an unequivocal, “Yes!” and I prayed for His power. I was confident that God would answer my prayer, I just had no idea the logistics of how God was going to answer.
Following that Sunday, as the weeks and days went by, God affirmed in me that His power is found in the Bible. Actually, I felt God say to me, as clear as having an audible conversation, “My power is found in my Word.” So, now I know where to get it, but where do I find the time? Like most people, our schedules are so full that even though I have the desire, I just don’t know how to devote extra time into something without something else having to give.
At the end of May, the Women’s Ministry team went away to Sun Peaks (courtesy of Dianne Finn for the use of her condo) for a planning weekend. First thing on Saturday morning, we had an amazing time of prayer where each woman present was prayed for and God opened up the heavens and released a specific word for each woman. Then, after lunch, each woman was silent before God, asking him what he desired that we participate in, and what our involvement in each event/program will be.
During the listening prayer, God asked me to lay everything down for the next ministry year and spend my time in his Word. “Even Fusion?” I countered, “We have good momentum right now, it’s not a good time to take a break.” God said to me, “You are not the catalyst,” and he gave me a verse, Psalm 37:25, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread [of life].” While, it is incredibly difficult to lay down all Women’s Ministry for this year, I am confident that the Lord is even more concerned about the spiritual welfare of the women and I do not need to be anxious for anything; they will continue to be fed.
I am excited about the time I will have to devote myself like Ezra 7:10, “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.” I want to not only know the Word better, but I want to know God more. A few weeks ago, my husband (who is not a believer) asked me, “Why do you always study the Bible? Shouldn’t you know it all by now?” I appreciate his confidence in my understanding, but I replied to him, “It’s a relationship. I don’t study the Bible just to gain knowledge, but to know God more. It’s like my relationship with you. We’ve been married for 13 years, after all this time, I know a lot about you. Should we go our separate ways now? Of course not, because as we are in a relationship and I am still learning things about you. In the same sense, I want to know God more, too.”
So friends, I am taking a hiatus from leading and working in Women’s Ministry so that my roots will grow deep. I am not an annual in God’s garden, but a perennial, intended to bloom again and again. I am abandoned to the Creator, to receive his power. I’m excited about the next year and spending time with God in his Word, but it is not without regret for leaving some of the things I love behind for a year.
Following that Sunday, as the weeks and days went by, God affirmed in me that His power is found in the Bible. Actually, I felt God say to me, as clear as having an audible conversation, “My power is found in my Word.” So, now I know where to get it, but where do I find the time? Like most people, our schedules are so full that even though I have the desire, I just don’t know how to devote extra time into something without something else having to give.
At the end of May, the Women’s Ministry team went away to Sun Peaks (courtesy of Dianne Finn for the use of her condo) for a planning weekend. First thing on Saturday morning, we had an amazing time of prayer where each woman present was prayed for and God opened up the heavens and released a specific word for each woman. Then, after lunch, each woman was silent before God, asking him what he desired that we participate in, and what our involvement in each event/program will be.
During the listening prayer, God asked me to lay everything down for the next ministry year and spend my time in his Word. “Even Fusion?” I countered, “We have good momentum right now, it’s not a good time to take a break.” God said to me, “You are not the catalyst,” and he gave me a verse, Psalm 37:25, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread [of life].” While, it is incredibly difficult to lay down all Women’s Ministry for this year, I am confident that the Lord is even more concerned about the spiritual welfare of the women and I do not need to be anxious for anything; they will continue to be fed.
I am excited about the time I will have to devote myself like Ezra 7:10, “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.” I want to not only know the Word better, but I want to know God more. A few weeks ago, my husband (who is not a believer) asked me, “Why do you always study the Bible? Shouldn’t you know it all by now?” I appreciate his confidence in my understanding, but I replied to him, “It’s a relationship. I don’t study the Bible just to gain knowledge, but to know God more. It’s like my relationship with you. We’ve been married for 13 years, after all this time, I know a lot about you. Should we go our separate ways now? Of course not, because as we are in a relationship and I am still learning things about you. In the same sense, I want to know God more, too.”
So friends, I am taking a hiatus from leading and working in Women’s Ministry so that my roots will grow deep. I am not an annual in God’s garden, but a perennial, intended to bloom again and again. I am abandoned to the Creator, to receive his power. I’m excited about the next year and spending time with God in his Word, but it is not without regret for leaving some of the things I love behind for a year.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
i was here...
A couple of summers ago, when Max was five, he decided to experiment with a sharp rock and a shiny black bumper on a brand new Mustang belonging to my husband’s aunt and uncle. Max was two-thirds of the way through his masterpiece when we discovered the little graffiti artist. His handiwork looked something like, MA and I would place a pretty hefty wager you know what’s coming next. He was trying to write his name, of course. In the absence of spite or malice, Max was trying to assert his presence; he exists.
More recently, I read Book of Negroes, by Lawrence Hill. In the book, the fictional main character, Aminata Diallo is an educated black slave who forges her way to freedom, serving the British in the Revolutionary War by registering the names of freed Loyalist slaves who requested permission to leave the US for resettlement in another British colony in Nova Scotia. As she is writing down the names of the endless streams of people, she is profoundly moved by the knowledge and realization that it is the first time her fellow black comrades have seen their name in writing and she’s aware that by writing their name, she is giving them a voice to say, “I was here. I exist. I am significant.”
I am not any different than my son, nor am I different than those characters in the book. I am striving for my own place in this world, for my own voice to be heard, to be significant. And it’s about here, when I acknowledge to myself that I want my life to be something of consequence that I hear my old enemy’s voice trying to put doubt in my mind; taunting me by telling me that seeking to be significant is the opposite of humble, it is self-seeking and proud. It’s true, if I’m not careful it would be easy to spend my life pursuing the wrong kind of things that will give me status. That’s when I have to turn to God’s holy word and ask him where I should find my significance.
First off, I have to answer the enemy’s taunt; is it self-seeking and unholy to desire a life of significance? In reply, God brings me to Genesis 12:1-3. In these three verses, God lays out his covenant promise to Abraham. God said he would make Abraham into a great nation, he would bless Abraham, he would make Abraham’s name great and Abraham would be a blessing. God said he would bless those that bless Abraham and whoever curses Abraham he would curse and all peoples on earth would be blessed through Abraham.
God promised Abraham that his name would be great and that he would be a blessing; in fact, that all peoples – that’s plural, would be blessed through him. I would say that answers the question. Does God want us to enjoy personal significance? Yes, and to prove it he built it into the covenant he made with Abraham and if we belong to Christ we are Abraham’s [spiritual] seed and heirs to the promise.
Personal significance is not exclusive of being used by God. In fact, it is all the more relevant and it’s something we should aspire, since it is promised as part of our inheritance through the covenant God made with Abraham and how much more true because of the new covenant by the blood of Jesus. Jesus came so that we could have [abundant, fulfilling, satisfying, significant] life.
Satan our enemy, a thief who comes only to steal, kill and destroy, and the Father of lies, attempts to deceive us first by saying that there is no lasting significance that we can aspire. If we dare oppose him with the truth of Scripture, then Satan will try to distract us with a myriad of unholy pursuits. Some pursuits for significance even look pretty holy, but always, they are self-seeking. Again, our rebuttal is found in Scripture. Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” I love this verse because it is essentially saying that personal significance happens naturally when we delight in our relationship with the Lord. The New Testament counterpart is found in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”
How then, is a significant life defined for the believer? The irony of the Kingdom of God is that whoever is last in the kingdom is first and if we want to gain our life, we must first lose it. If we want to claim, “I was here,” we must first find ourselves in the one who is called, “I am.” God, who is the Great I am, has always been and forever will he be. Why should we settle for simply stating, “I was here,” because when we are found in Christ, we will have eternal life, and we are called by his own name. “I was here,” becomes a moot point because “I am in Christ.”
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