Skip to main content

The Sword

                 This is what the Lord says: “The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness; I will come to give rest to Israel.” The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:2-3)

 

We all have moments. Sometimes, they last longer than moments. Yesterday I had a few. I ran out of soil in the garage before I ran out of beds to fill. I was thinking of buying soil (a first!) today, but the weather forecast said “Rain.” For once, it’s correct. I couldn’t find a vital document to finish my taxes. A book I was reading was pushing all the wrong buttons. These and other little things tripped up my attitude. They were tiny swords, but swords none-the-less.

None of it was terribly traumatic. The traumatic makes me feel justified in my emotional response. The problem was that I had a problem that (in my mind) didn’t justify and response at all. And today, I found myself in another situation that wasn’t really a problem, but I caught myself responding as if it were (fortunately, not publicly.)

My life is way too easy. My moments are petty. But there are people who remain with a sword-wielder because they think it’s their duty or because they think the wilderness is worse. The Israelites were told how long their exile was to last, and certainly, if you’re facing a sword-or-wilderness decision, you should do so prayerfully. But the Lord told them that they would find favor in the wilderness, not with the sword.

It's not too far from Peter getting out of a storm-tossed boat to walk on the water. Sometimes it’s wiser to face a fear than to continue in pain.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer Lists

                 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:2-3)   In connection with what I wrote yesterday about the possibility that I’m wrong, I’m feeling the need to go back to basics - craving spiritual milk because somehow, I missed something. It’s a little embarrassing, craving milk like a newborn, but the truth probably is that we are newborns many times in many ways in our lives. From God’s perspective, we may never be anything more than newborns, forever needing that milk. On the other hand, being a newborn can also be exciting because so much is new. My mind is playing pinball - ricocheting from one idea to the next and through six more before it happens to hit the third again. The main topic is prayer. I have at least seven organizing structures all somewhat influenced by the movie War Room , which I’v...
Post a Comment
Read more