perspective
God is so much bigger, so much greater than I could ever imagine He could be. I have a pretty good sense of how big and great He is, and He continually amazes me. He is the God that takes dead, dried bones, fashions a skeleton, clothes it in tendons and muscles, sinew and skin, and breathes new life into it.
Job 5:9: He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted. (Thanks, David!)
That's God; who am I?
- Isaiah 6:5: "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
- Isaiah 64:6: All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
- Malachi 2:14: You ask, "Why?" It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.
- Romans 7:24: What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
What should my reaction be to adversity?
- Ephesians 5:19b-20: Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Philippians 4:6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- Colossians 3:17: And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 14:19: Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
And what of my adversity itself?
- Psalm 119:50: My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
- Romans 5:3-5: Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
- Romans 8:17-18: Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
- Hebrews 2:10: In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
- 1 Peter 4:13: But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Why in the world did God choose me? I know my heart, I am truly the man described in Romans 7... except that sometimes I don't even
want to do what I know is right. Instead, He frustrates my efforts to thwart His plan, all the while waiting for me on the other side and healing (by His infinite grace!) broken relationships that I leave in my wake. That I have
ANY chance to participate in relationships I have continually trashed over the years is a testament to His grace, His everyday gift to someone who deserves death and isolation (now and for eternity).
Yet through my failings, "before the creation of the world" He chose me "to be holy and blameless in his sight." (Ephesians 1:4) The question, "But why, Lord?" is the great mystery. My sin is not a mystery; I know it intimately. The mechanics of His saving grace is somewhat of a mystery, but so are all things supernatural. The big mystery is, "How can God, being perfect, choose me?"
Even in our imperfection, we choose not to associate with people who are "less perfect" than we are, or who otherwise don't deserve our time or effort. And yet, if God used our method of determining who was worthy of His time, He would be a lonely God. We feel that sometimes, and perhaps we compromise ourselves, who we are, our beliefs, just to alleviate the pain of being alone. God, on the other hand, gave of Himself, limited His power, killed a bit of Himself (if you will) to find the perfect match of saving me and maintaining His perfect self.
If I live 100 years, I don't think I'll get that. For now, I just take heart in the fact that God is good (all the time!), I am His, and He will direct my comings and goings.
Posted by pcg at January 5, 2004 8:02 PM