Skip to main content

Can


Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, (Jude 1:24)

          Today has been one of those days that happens when you’re making other plans. I like to write these blog posts in the morning, and it’s 4:15 pm. It feels like I’ve gotten nothing done because my to-do list is still long and what I’m doing now should have been done 7 hours ago. The things I did do needed to be done, or I wanted to do them but not today. Today was supposed to be different. But, this morning, one of my prayers was that God would direct me, to accomplish through me what He chose to. And then everything went caterwonky. Not bad, just not what I had expected. It’s hard to believe God choreographed it because it doesn’t have any big God-moments. Just life.
          Today’s passage says that He is able to keep us from stumbling. It says he can make us stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy. What does any of that mean? In the first place, it means that He can do what I cannot. I can’t keep from stumbling. I assume I’ve stumbling even when I can’t think of anything I’ve done wrong. But my heart is crying out, “Please God, if there can be any good that comes out of today, please God.”  And, of course, once that cry goes out, it expands… any good that comes out of this summer… this summer… this life.
          Wasn’t it just yesterday that I was talking about what a good summer it’s been? Was I lying to you? To myself? No. It has been a good summer. But I’m not in control today, and it shows in my deeds and in my attitude. (WDA, WDA.) I asked God to direct, and while part of me wants to say, “And He didn’t!” the truth is that I think He did, but I either don’t understand, or don’t approve, or both.
          A phrase from Dallas Willard comes to mind. He wrote about becoming the kind of person who does the right things, good things. If you are the kind of person who drives a car well, you probably do a lot of things without thinking about it. Gas pedal, brake pedal, steering wheel, blinker light, speedometer, mirror, mirror, mirror, stop signs, etc. A good driver doesn’t think about all of these things. They just drive. So, is it possible that since God is able to keep me from stumbling, that I can go through a day just doing whatever, and not have to conclude that I’ve spent the day failing to dance on marbles? If so, then my hope must be in what He has done, not in any noteworthy effort on my part. But isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?
          Should we not be trusting that He not only can but will?
         



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more