Quantifiable?
Statistics are so easy. So comfortably clean; objective and uninvolved.
Where we err is in carrying our simplistic definitions into a realm which transcends such boundaries. We’d prefer to catalog God’s favor in such a way: the greater the abundance of tangibles, the greater His degree of blessing; the more that's withheld, the more He would see us disgraced and wanting.
Except God isn’t that easy.
Human nature finds it appealing to look strictly at what lies in a person’s hands: health, a wedding ring, an abundance of children, a stable family, a prosperous job, a godly reputation, or an “effective” ministry even. We shade the lines with the rationale that all of those gifts are signs of God’s having directed our life, and our having been obedient enough to find the passageway to receiving from His hand.
Somehow we’d prefer to skim the surface, glancing at the definable elements stitched into the fabric of one’s life, rather than tackle the far stickier issue that sometimes God’s favor comes not in the visible realm, but more profoundly in the intangible one. And more, that sometimes it is His withholding that yields an even greater good…
For we have to come to that point of acknowledging that whatever He has chosen is for our best, and gladly acknowledge of the Master Artist that, ‘It is the Infinite wielding His brush; I know He does all things well’ (“Come Away, My Beloved,” Frances J. Roberts, p. 246).
When we cease trying to quantify what we or others have, we find that what we boil down to is not some receptacle which is filled with “things” from a heavenly hand, but an individual before our Creator, Savior, and Stay… a soul in whom the Infinite takes meticulous and tender interest, and would only bestow upon us – in the giving or withholding (Job 1:21) – exactly what His mercy has deemed suitable to the shaping of our souls.
The temptation remains. The tangible gifts hold their sway, and cause us to question whether His love for us must be demonstrated through visible means. And yet it is only the voice of the Enemy which causes us to question.
For if we truly saw what love looks like – if we could grasp that it is neither possession or position which tells of His love; that it is not pleasantry or privilege, but the prerogative of Him to become helpless and mangled on our behalf – we’d then understand that what is in our hands has nothing to do with whether we’re loved by the One into whose hands our nails were driven ~
Where we err is in carrying our simplistic definitions into a realm which transcends such boundaries. We’d prefer to catalog God’s favor in such a way: the greater the abundance of tangibles, the greater His degree of blessing; the more that's withheld, the more He would see us disgraced and wanting.
Except God isn’t that easy.
Human nature finds it appealing to look strictly at what lies in a person’s hands: health, a wedding ring, an abundance of children, a stable family, a prosperous job, a godly reputation, or an “effective” ministry even. We shade the lines with the rationale that all of those gifts are signs of God’s having directed our life, and our having been obedient enough to find the passageway to receiving from His hand.
Somehow we’d prefer to skim the surface, glancing at the definable elements stitched into the fabric of one’s life, rather than tackle the far stickier issue that sometimes God’s favor comes not in the visible realm, but more profoundly in the intangible one. And more, that sometimes it is His withholding that yields an even greater good…
For we have to come to that point of acknowledging that whatever He has chosen is for our best, and gladly acknowledge of the Master Artist that, ‘It is the Infinite wielding His brush; I know He does all things well’ (“Come Away, My Beloved,” Frances J. Roberts, p. 246).
When we cease trying to quantify what we or others have, we find that what we boil down to is not some receptacle which is filled with “things” from a heavenly hand, but an individual before our Creator, Savior, and Stay… a soul in whom the Infinite takes meticulous and tender interest, and would only bestow upon us – in the giving or withholding (Job 1:21) – exactly what His mercy has deemed suitable to the shaping of our souls.
The temptation remains. The tangible gifts hold their sway, and cause us to question whether His love for us must be demonstrated through visible means. And yet it is only the voice of the Enemy which causes us to question.
For if we truly saw what love looks like – if we could grasp that it is neither possession or position which tells of His love; that it is not pleasantry or privilege, but the prerogative of Him to become helpless and mangled on our behalf – we’d then understand that what is in our hands has nothing to do with whether we’re loved by the One into whose hands our nails were driven ~
posted by Purple at 8:45 AM
2 Comments:
wow! are you sure you weren't in magalia this weekend?!? this post soooo goes along with dougs sermon, and the post right befor this goes along with what we talked about in sunday school! you are always such a blessing to me! i love you!
Patience vs restlessness...
accepting a difficult situation from G-d without giving him a time limit to remove it.(without complaining) Rms 5v3-8
Blah! i am totally restless right now! This is
"exactly what His mercy has deemed suitable to the shaping of our souls" ?! like deep cuts in a fresnal lens.
you know the things of which i speak, you know what i can't voice too. i miss you horribly! i suddenly feel alone without you. when will you visit next?
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