So this post may make sense to you, or not. I just decided that I needed to pose a question and use this blog as an opportunity to start a discussion.At our church we have been spending the last few weeks in the book of Colossians and moving forward in the transition that was started when Rodger left. It is the word transition that got me thinking. Shouldn't we as Christians always be in some form of transition? Is God ever happy to see us just stay the same?
This is played out several times by the Israelites as they stated time and time again that they should have been content to stay in Egypt or in the wilderness. This usually came after something happening that they didn't expect.
To me staying the same could be viewed as a refusal to grow and to be challenged. It would be like setting a goal to climb mt everest. When you reached the first camp and looked out over the amazing view you decide that you were content where you are and that it couldn't get any better than this. Life is a journey and God is continually showing us that there is so much more ahead of us. If the view is amazing where we are at now, imagine what it looks like to fulfill the dream that was began in you.
As this process continues I have resolved to no longer look at this as a transition but to be fully consumed by God's will for our church as the body of Christ. Whether that be administration, youth trips, planning worship services, or simply being still and knowing that this whole thing is in God's hands.
Our new pastor uses this phrase quite frequently: "You are more evil than you could possibly know, but you are more loved and accepted then you could possibly understand." - such a simple phrase but with it comes amazing freedom. We are wretched, sinful, horrible people, but despite that God offers grace to us so freely and says "get up and try again, I'll be here to catch you when you fall again."
Thoughts?
2 comments:
From a random terminal in Heathrow Airport - first off your pastor quotes Tim Keller and in one quick movement earned my respect because I want to have Keller's babies....
and so should you.... reading 'The Reason for God: Belief in an age of skepticism' right now....brilliant...
secondly.... the israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years ultimately for progress but that's a lot of apparent stagnation....we've got to have categories for God's movement in His time so we don't become legalists....
-jake
Agreed, you miss the gospel by jumping into the realm of legalism or swinging the other way into, for lack of a better term, hedonism.
40 years stagnant yes...progress yes. I have to keep reminding myself that our time is not God's time
There are many examples of moving forward and doing it right now.
What about Jonah, Moses, Joshua, Issac, Abraham? The story of these men show that when God speaks...listen and act...move forward.
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