Skip to main content

Playing Games

            “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the  wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18-19)

 

            We’ve reached the imaginary divide. By the time you read this, we’ll have crossed it. May 2024 be a year of health, hope, happiness/joy, and growth for all of us. I’ve said that my theme for the year is “When I’ve been tried, I shall come forth as gold.” But I’m starting to think that it’s the year of the devotional. Someone gave me one, and I have purchased what I suspect are two more. If nothing else, they’ll serve as fodder for this blog.

            With the new year, we want new things, but we cling to the old and we cling to our old plans that are functions of our old selves. Sometimes, this is a good thing. Sometimes, it makes us resistant to God’s direction. I know that some people claim to love change, but I wonder how often their love for change is really their love of control.

            But as I look at today’s passage, one of the ideas that comes to mind is that it’s about freedom. God is telling us to give Him the freedom to work out His will by giving ourselves the freedom to let go of the past. He doesn’t need our permission to do what He chooses to do, but our lives will be easier for us if we stop fighting Him about it. And the problem is that, as with the verses above, God doesn’t tell us exactly what His plans are. It’s closer to “I have a surprise for you. Take My hand and close your eyes…”

            The devotional spends time suggesting that we should look for God, not in the sense of “Where are You when I need You” or “Come do what I tell You” but in the sense of looking out the window of our souls to see the butterfly or playing peek-a-boo. It might seem irreverent to think of God as playing games with us, but how many parents – even those who are “important people” – are willing to play with their infants or grandchildren? If we aren’t willing to play with God, is it because we don’t want to dishonor Him – or ourselves?

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Right Road

          Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:7-12)                  For years before GPSes existed, I told people I wanted something in my car that would tell me, “Turn left in half a mile…turn left in a quarter mile…turn left in 500 feet… turn left in 100 feet…turn left now …You missed the turn, Dummy!” The problem isn’t necessarily that I get lost so much as I’m afraid I’ll get lost. I don’t want to have to spend my whole trip stressing over the next turn. I have the same problem with my spiritual journey.   
Post a Comment
Read more

Died as a Ransom

                 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)                  This is something I’d really rather not think about but here it is and it’s important. I was reading in Bold Love about seeking revenge.  The author wrote of seeking justice when a supposed Christian does something sinful, harmful, and/or horrific, like sexually abusing a daughter.  And the thought that came to mind was of God asking if Jesus’ death was sufficient payment to me for the sin committed against me.                I have no specific longing for revenge, vengeance, or justice. I’m sure there are some lurking somewhere in my heart, but this wasn’t a response to one. It was more a question of principle. Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for to God for our sins.  That’s the standard Sunday Schoo
1 comment
Read more

Out of the Depths

  Out of the depths I have cried to You, Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the sound of my pleadings.   If You, Lord, were to keep account of guilty deeds, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, so that You may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I wait for His word. My soul waits in hope for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning. Israel, wait for the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his guilty deeds . (Psalm 130)             I like Mr. Peterson’s interpretation of the first line. “The bottom has fallen out of my life!” Of course, the problem for some of us is the fact that we’re drama queens, and/or we’re weak. Any time anything happens that disturbs our sense of mastery and control, the bottom has fallen out of our lives. If the past couple of days have taught me anything, they’ve t
1 comment
Read more