The lump of clay is thrown on the wheel and slowly worked…at a steady pace you start to shape the clay…not too fast, not too slow. The form begins to take shape, when suddenly your hand causes it to be damaged…ruined. Oh well, you gather up the clay…and you start over. God is the God of do overs. Our lives will never get to the point where He can’t do us over. The Lord will rework our lives over and over again until He deems us a perfect vessel.
Month: August 2013
Job 23:10 ” But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
The Lord understands us better than we do ourselves…He knows our behaviors and actions before they even happen. So when we are tested by Him, He is determining our true character and integrity…for He wants us to emerge from His refiner’s fire as pure, precious gold. Those tests will come…but we can come forth victorious.
John 21:17 “The third time He said to him, ‘ Simon son of John, do you love Me?’ “
During the Last Supper, Jesus had foretold Simon Peter that he would betray Him…not just once, or twice, but three times. So in this interchange at the end of the Gospel of John, we see the risen Jesus asking Simon Peter not once, or twice, but three times if he loved Him. Each time He asks this question, we see Jesus restoring Simon Peter back into relationship not only with Himself, but as one of the leaders among the disciples, and ultimately in the early Church.
Hebrews 12:10-11 ” Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
When they handed me that little bundle of joy in the hospital, I sure wish they’d given me a operator’s manual too! Suddenly you’re responsible for a tiny human’s moral and spiritual nurturing and training. What a huge task to undertake, but with lots of prayer and Godly wisdom from others you do the very best you can. Discipline is hard on both parties…those receiving, as well as those giving, but in the end if that little one has grown up to be an upright, just, and Godly person, it’s all worth it.
Ecclesiastes 4:4 ” And I saw all labor and all achievement spring from man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
Keeping up with the Joneses is certainly not a new thing. Even back in Biblical times people were striving to match or outdo their neighbors in spending and social standing. But this verse looks way beyond the petty jealousy and covetousness to how very difficult it is to maintain that façade and false pretense. It’s like chasing after the wind…useless and meaningless, and laborious to maintain.
Romans 6: 6-7 ” For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”
Dead bodies can’t sin…dead bodies can’t be held in bondage by a sinful nature anymore…dead bodies can’t react to the worldly things around them…dead bodies can’t sin. Put off your “old self” and be set free, no longer a slave to sin… now a willing bond servant to righteousness.
Proverbs 13: 12 ” Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
” You have less than 4 months to live, go home and put your affairs in order.” My husband’s Cardiologist did not mince words after performing an Angiogram on his heart. Thus started one of the most difficult times of our marriage. And so, we waited…waited for changes…waited for declines…waited for the other shoe to fall. I discovered that while you’re in the middle of this gray void there is no future, other than the present moment, there is no hope, other than the eternal hope you cling to. So after a year of living in this wasteland, I sat Landy down and said, “I can’t do this anymore. From this day forward, we’re going to live like you’re healed and not dying. We’re going to move forward in life rather than sit, waiting for something to happen. We’re going to make plans for the future, and start looking forward to things.” And we started doing just that…and 15 years later we’re still making plans and looking eagerly towards the future together. God is so very good!
Colossians 3:22 ” Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.”
You may just think you’re a bondservant at work, but back in Biblical times, even slaves held positions of great responsibility…think of Joseph in Egypt. But the main focus of this verse has to do more with character, sincerity, and honesty in the workplace. What you do, or don’t do, when the Boss isn’t there, speaks volumes to your co-workers around you. Anyone can suck-up to the Boss when need be… but only someone with true integrity will work even harder when no one is watching.
Colossians 3:21 ” Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”
This verse deals with the real cause and effect of negative emotions. If we constantly provoke a child, they will soon start to feel disheartened, with low self confidence…which can lead to feelings of hopelessness, indifference, and defeat. Negative emotions can and will only produce more negative emotions in others.
Colossians 3:20 ” Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
This verse is quoted by many a Mom or Dad in order to get their child to do as they are told…but if read in it’s entirety, the focus of this scripture is not on compliance only, but rather on doing what the Lord desires. A child’s obedience to his/her parents is secondary to the ultimate obedience to God.
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