Thoughts from the long run

In his message last Sunday, our pastor urged us to look at the Christ on the cross that was pictured in the book of John. He wasn't urging us to contemplate the gore or the suffering of Chris,t although he had talked some about those things the previous week. Rather, we looked at the prophecies that John pointed out were fulfilled in the crucifixion of Christ. Maybe it is the English major in me, but I can't look at the ways that God has orchestrated all of history down to the smallest detail to work His great plan without weeping and laughing simultaneously.

But so what? It makes for good listening on a Sunday morning, but what does the fact that the God of the universe knew hundreds of years before it happened that He would be pierced by His chosen people? What does it matter that God made David a type of His Son? It matters to me, today. Because that same God is still writing the story of the world. We may know the ending of the story, but it is still playing out. My life is part of the whole, the bigger picture. The same God that caused the details of David's life to follow a plan that would point to Christ, is writing the content of my days. He can use my life to point to Him just like He has used countless others. He knows when the details of my life are more than I can carry on my own. He knows when to test me and when to give sweet rest. Like the life of Abraham, He is working in me to grow my faith. He loves me and like the master craftsman that He is, He is lovingly working for me. Nothing in my day today, tomorrow, or yesterday is outside His knowledge and control.

Considering Christ on the cross assures me that He can be trusted with all that I have and am. Nothing, not even the leaving of friends, the uncertainty of our times, or daily trials are more than He can handle. He is God: The Eternal Creator of the Universe, and He loves me and is in control of all that concerns me.

Keeping Track

Maybe,the reason that our children rebel when they are 16 is because they are just responding to us the way that we have taught them to by the way that we have responded to them all of their lives.

I find myself feeling as if my children should know when they are being inconsiderate or selfish or stubborn, and I react to their sinful actions with anger and frustration. Then, I expect them to show grace to me when I sin against them. Such a double standard and unrealistic expectations would make me angry! How can I expect them to respond in a more mature and Christ-like way than I am willing to!

God please help me to grow in Your grace so as to be able to shower it on my children. Love covers a multitude of sin.

What Jesus Didn't Say

"God just said, 'Let there be light,' and Boom! there it was!" exclaimed, our four-year-old daughter with her eyes nearly bugging out of her head. The concept of the power of the words of God had been the subject of her Sunday School lessons for the last few weeks. It was evident that the ideas presented were fascinating to her. (She talks when she is trying to understand and process ideas. She is like someone else that I know.)

Her comments were just another piece in the many that have been swirling in my head for the last while. It seems that God often uses bits and pieces from several sources to drive a concept home to my heart. Lately, it has been the idea of the power of words. One of the names of Christ is The Word. God created using His words. The prophets were often described as receiving "the word of the LORD."

There are myriad of references to what and how we speak in Scripture. "A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger," is just one well-known example. I've been reading James, and it includes an extensive discussion of the tongue and how we use it.

During this time of year, we've been preparing for our Easter celebrations and talking about what Easter is. I've noticed again that Jesus showed amazing self-control when questioned by Pilate. He didn't say more than was necessary. He didn't let Pilate off the hook, but He also didn't argue with one who really wouldn't be able to understand. As the season progresses, what a great time to think about the words that Jesus said. I imagine that there are a few things to learn even from what He didn't say.