Stirred By The Scriptures

There are days I realize that life is just plain hard.  Today is one of those days.  What makes life hard, more often than not, are relationships.  Bring two people together whether in marriage, in friendship or in those settings like work (even in the church) and sharp edges can rub hard against each other. We all experience it and we all have witnessed it in the lives of those around us.  So what is the solution? I have always thought moving to a deserted island with controled visits (move control of course) sounded good.  Unfortunately the answer isn’t in location but rather much closer to home - namely my heart.  I can and am a very self-centered, self-absorbed individual.  Before you say AMEN, so are you.  It is the sin of my justified, self-centeredness that creates many of the difficulties in relationships. If people are going to see the truth of the life-changing gospel they need to see it in how we treat one another.  Listen to the words of Paul :
    “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Why?  Because that is the example Jesus left us.  His life needs to mark the way I live.  “Lord, help it to be true in me.”

I have attended two funerals in the last week.  I sat through both of them from a very different perspective - I was an attender.  That is not normal for me, I am usually the one who is up front trying to make sense of death, bring comfort to a family and asking folks to think hard about what is really important.  What struck me at both of the services was the need to clearly define where hope is found.  My vantage point was different but the object of hope remained the same.  I was thrilled that at both services people heard hope is found in a relationship to Jesus. Paul tells the Colossians this “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” He follows that up with the statement “We proclaim him…” These are our marching orders, not just at funerals but in all of life - to tell people about Christ who is our hope. I believe all of us are seeking lasting hope.  I also believe there is nothing in this world that will provide it except for Christ.  I hope you will think about how you might proclaim that hope this week.

Encouragement is a strange thing. We all love to receive it and tend to minimize it when we give it away. The other observation I have made is that encouragement comes in so many different packages. A smile, a comment, a kind act and even just your presence can all bring encouragement to another person. The author of Hebrews tells us not to give up getting together with each other and keep on encouraging one another. Simple words but good ones. Who could you encourage today?

One of my prayers every time we gather as a church is “that we would see who God is with greater clarity.” I am sure I make that request because it is what I need. One of the many places I wrestle with is shaping God into who I want him to be.  It is not necessarily a bold redesign but a subtle tweaking.  Why do I do that?  Perhaps more than anything it is so I don’t have to make any adjustments to my own life.  Truth is I often think I could run my life better than God so I seek to get him to cooperate. Sounds pretty arrogant - it is.  You see that is why I pray that prayer.  Job said it best when after seeing God and having a “face to face” he concluded:
“My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.  Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”“Oh God, let me see you.”