It's funny how something that was supposed to be fun can quickly turn into a horrible nightmare! The events of life often turn out that way, but there are people on the same ride having a great time. For them it's wonderful fun. They have been on this ride before and know it will turn out ok, but if it's your first time it's horrible!
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I'm seeing this in the body of Christ as people I know and care about find themselves on their first ride of complete dependence on God. They have never had to trust God in this way before. Always, before this ride, they have had a job, savings, income, and all they needed. Suddenly they find themselves on a ride that creates sheer terror! But if they could look back and see others having great fun on this same ride they might ask, "what do they know that I don't?"
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They have been on this ride before. What they know is that God will take care of them, so they are just enjoying the ride. It's great fun when God's in charge. If you find yourself on this ride for the first time I encourage you to read this most amazing passage,
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Mat 6:25 "If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.
Mat 6:26 Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
Mat 6:27 "Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch?
Mat 6:28 All this time and money wasted on fashion--do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop,
Mat 6:29 but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
Mat 6:30 "If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers--most of which are never even seen--don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?
Mat 6:31 What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving.
Mat 6:32 People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works.
Mat 6:33 Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
Mat 6:34 "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
But the ride would seem more fun if I knew when the end of the ride would be. It's starting to feel like it's gone on forever and I'm feeling a tad motion-sick.
ReplyDeleteI do understand. I visited with one of our men today who is near losing everything because of job loss and lack of income. He told me he and his wife are closer to the Lord than they have ever been and he's willing to give up everything to have this relationship with God that he has now. It's funny how "stuff" seems to lose its appeal when you find yourself in a close relationship with God.
ReplyDeleteI hope and pray we don't have to get to that point to be in a close relationship with God. Seriously.
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