The Slow Learner Gets Reading Glasses
Heather,at The Narrow Gate , wrote a profoundly important post which she gave me permission to repost. I think you will appreciate it. I hope you will take it to heart.
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And before I share what the Lord showed me, I would ask readers to please set aside any preconceived notions about doctrine or eschatology. I promise, I’m not a crazy heretic who’s pushing some “new and improved” version of salvation. And I’m sure our study of God’s Word is never pointless. But the “extra” stuff WILL cloud our vision if we don’t already clearly see the “big picture”. God’s people have been stuck too long contemplating such details as how works “work”, who is “elect” and why some believers are “gifted” when others are not.
Please pray that the Lord would help you weigh carefully what I say here. Facing the whole truth and choosing to continue believing partial truths is not a light matter and I’m frightened at having been given such a precious treasure to share. I don’t want to do this the wrong way.
And no. This is not Heather being dramatic. If we want to see the truth, we have to ask the One who IS truth. Otherwise, we will stubbornly continue in unbelief.
Alright. The simple, basic truth is really not so different than my father’s summation of the Bible.
1. I am God. You are not.
2. And I love you anyway.
There is much wisdom there. But I would change it to say:
1. I am your Father. And I know what is best. Leave the hard things to Me.
2. But even though you don’t want to see this, I love you anyway. Come back and let Me take care of you.
Do you see what I see?
Read Genesis and Exodus. Everything Jesus said. John’s Gospel and his epistles. Paul’s writings. It’s all over Scripture.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
The foundation of our faith is simple. It is a pure devotion to our Lord. But we make it hard because of our stubborn, sinful flesh that does not want to admit that we were made to need a Gentle Shepherd who will take care of us. We want to have it our way and try to scheme and plan and figure out a better path to everlasting life.
For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, does he not leave the ninety and nine and go into the mountains and seek the straying one? And if it happens that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety and nine which did not stray. Even so it is not the will of your Father in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
If our sibling in Christ chooses to not repent, then we are to bring in an ELDER sibling (this has nothing to do with some organizational hierarchy, BTW–it is acknowledgment of Family order, pure and simple). Call for one who’s faith is recognized to be more mature and who might be able to better hear from Daddy what to do. If that doesn’t work, get the whole local Family together so that they can all urge the errant brother back into the protective arms of his Father. The purpose here is reconciliation with Daddy, not the merciless gang-beating of one of His children by the rest. If the person still refuses to repent (Post on that topic), and will not act as though he believes Dad knows what He’s saying, then we need to recognize that he most likely doesn’t know Dad and doesn’t want to be disciplined by Him. For, through Solomon, God said “My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11-12
We are to hand that errant person back over to the Lord for punishment (put him out of the “assembly”). The Lord will not fail to deal with him. And if he responds, we are to welcome him back with open arms—no questions asked. That is the forgiveness of agape.
But while He yet talked with the people, behold, His mother and His brothers stood outside, desiring to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, Behold, Your mother and Your brothers stand outside, desiring to speak with You. And He answered and said to him who told Him, Who is My mother? And who are My brothers? And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, Behold, My mother and My brothers! For whoever shall do the will of My Father in Heaven, the same is My brother and sister and mother. Matthew 12:46-50
Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Luke 18:15-17
And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Luke 17:1-2
Have I tried to build an intellectually logical framework into which I cram God? Is it my business to try to determine who is “elect” and who deserves God’s wrath? Do I dare to stand in opposition to the family that Jesus is building through the Spirit? If that is my attitude, then I should be trembling in fear, for John tells us that
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. In this is love perfected with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because he first loved us. If any one says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also.
One last thing. I have read through the Gospel of John a couple of times. The last time, we read it as a family about 6 months ago. And for the first time in my life, I noticed the way Resurrected Jesus addressed his fishing disciples…
Then Jesus said to them, Children, do you have anything to eat? They answered Him, No. John 21:5
Read the rest of that passage. As we read the Bible, we need to strive to catch a glimpse of the family that God is building. We need to beg him to take the scales off of our eyes and cause us to SEE what He’s doing. Jesus’ death and resurrection makes it possible for all of mankind to be reconciled with the Father. How He does it and who He chooses is none of my business. But I’d better not get in His way.
Love created us. It walked among us. Love is saving us and is building a permanent home for us. Love ran to us when we had wasted our beautiful inheritance. It hugged us while we smelled like manure. It rejoices when any previously thankless child turns and comes, filthy and broken, back to the Father. It washes us. It places royal robes on our shoulders and holds a feast out of pure joy……………
Love instructs us to touch others in the same way and we can’t do it without Him.
Can you see it?
If this concept doesn’t absolutely rock your world, beg God to tip you out of the boat–in the middle of the lake–during a storm–with no life jacket. He will not fail to lift you up when you plead with Him to save you.
He’s promised. And His Promise is trustworthy.
Will return to the concept of the Bible as a love story ASAP .”
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Tags: christian living
christian living | Word Warrior | 
November 14, 2009 11:06 am
Loved this! Can anyone read this and not see from scripture that we are a covenantal people of God who need to worship together? Not lone ranger Christians say “just my Bible and Jesus”? Like a family we must be committed to each other! Where would I be without the body of Christ..as broken and imperfect as it is.
Liked this so much. The prayer of Jesus for His disciples then and now was all about us being one so the world would know God sent Him. Then if we aren’t one, like the family He created us to be, the world would remain blinded. Wouldn’t it be awesome if even half of us were radically obedient to God and loving in unity with our co-heirs in Christ. The world would break down the walls of the church to get what they saw. Let it be so, LORD!
word warrior….or words of love. I would definitely glean more from a person who spoke out of words of love as apposed to war. I actually enjoyed this post, and was touched by the fundamental message…that of love. God’s love for us and spread through us. Instead of trying to FIX everyone else…..we can just be vessels of God’s amazing love.
Sarah,
Translation of your comment: “Don’t say anything that offends.”
There were many types of vessels of love in Scripture, and often they were so offensive, the vessels were killed.
If you prefer a different style of writing, there are so many blogs to choose from and you are welcome to read those, instead of criticizing mine.
“To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.” Jeremiah 6:10
WW,
great verse! (I know you didn’t write it, but good find ;}
Great post! Thanks to Heather.