Word for Today, Fri, 12 Aug 2005: The Theology Of Rest
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
Welcome back to an end of the week edition of Word for Today. I
have not been feeling well at all recently, which is why I have
not sent any notes to you in about a week. I am doing better
now, and "on the mend".
Most of us feel pretty good about our circumstances when things
go well for us, but how do we respond when our life has one
challenge after another?
About ten years ago now, I had some of the most difficult years
in my life. I was a believer then, but I was, without a doubt,
not giving God first place in every area of my life. My
situations eventually suffered greatly and I went through some of
the most challenging years of my life.
I am on the other side of that now. What effect did those events
have?
Well, as I say, I was a believer then, so what happened is that
God used the events of my life to get my attention, to get me to
believe that He can accomplish all things, but also to realize
that when I attempt to go my own way I can create a near
disaster.
When I emerged from the awfulness of my circumstances back then,
I was so happy that I was silly happy, often on the fringes of
stupidity. It was great to have relief from what I went through!
I praised God loudly and often, but I now wonder what kind of an
impression I made upon the impressionable, and what kind of an
impression I made to those who were really watching with wonder
and interest?
I have been going through another long period of struggle in
life. This time, it has been a struggle to find and maintain
employment in something that can support a household.
Once again, I believe that a combination of arrogance,
carelessness, failing to focus on the right things, and just not
doing the job right have caused me to do some of these things to
myself. I would never blame God, either for the first set of
calamities in my life or the redefining ones that are going on
today.
What I keep asking God, and also myself, are these kinds of
questions: Lord, what can I learn from this now? Lord, can You
somehow use these situations to bring me to the place You really
want me to be? Lord, can you open my eyes so that I can take a
good, honest look at myself and change my attitudes, actions, and
behaviors into ones that are pleasing to You and useful for Your
work?
I have to believe that one positive fruit of all of this, if I am
willing, is that God will use it for His Honor and glory. I will
learn, it will keep drawing me near to God. I don't know for
sure, but perhaps it will help at least one other person as they
struggle with their own issues of drawing near to God and relying
on Him.
If either of those fruits, or some other even better fruit
result from these present difficulties, well, right now it's hard
to say it, but it will all be worth it!
I continue to ask God to patiently work with me and on me. Here
is my report: the progress and work has been incredibly patient
by God! The only limitation has been: me. The more I give to
God, the more He works out and refines.
My stubbornness, laziness, complacency, lack of faith, fear,
hidden sin, and other factors all get in the way from time to
time. Even so, God is faithful! Isn't that amazing?
I pray that each of you have your own stories that you can tell
to others how God is working in your life, even with the lump of
clay that still needs work!
Yours in Christ,
Brian
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My Utmost For His Highest : "The Theology Of Rest"
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/ MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST --
http://www.heartlight.org/
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August 12, 2005
THE THEOLOGY OF REST
Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?
Matthew 8:26
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=mt+8:26&sr=1
When we are in fear we can do nothing less than pray to God, but Our
Lord has a right to expect that those who name His Name should have
an understanding confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so
confident in Him that in any crisis they are the reliable ones. Our
trust is in God up to a certain point, then we go back to the
elementary panic prayers of those who do not know God. We get to our
wits' end, showing that we have not the slightest confidence in Him
and His government of the world; He seems to be asleep, and we see
nothing but breakers ahead.
"O ye of little faith!" What a pang must have shot through the
disciples - 'Missed it again!' And what a pang will go through us
when we suddenly realize that we might have produced down right joy
in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, no
matter what was ahead.
There are stages in life when there is no storm, no crisis, when we
do our human best; it is when a crisis arises that we instantly
reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and
to trust Him, the crisis will reveal that we will go to the breaking
point and not break in our confidence in Him.
We have been talking a great deal about sanctification - what is it
all going to amount to? It should work out into rest in God which
means oneness with God, a oneness which will make us not only
blameless in His sight, but a deep joy to Him.
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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