so that he had to pay it back?' For all things were created by him, and all things exist through him and for him. To God be the glory for ever! Amen."
I don't like to wait.
I don't like delays.
I don't like it when plans are not followed.
Part of me could be diagnosed with any number of things (and I have) to explain why I get irritated and feel compulsions to have things in a certain order or way. When I do not have that, I get physically and emotionally uncomfortable. Or, all of the psychology aside, it may just be that I am a human being that's alive and experiences emotions, like everyone else does. Or, maybe I just want my way. We all want our way. (FYI, I don't know of ANYONE that doesn't want their way.)
All of us enjoy feeling in control of our own schedule and grow frustrated when things don't go according to plan. Yet if we truly desire to walk in the center of God's perfect will, we must become willing to cooperate with His time frame. This is the hardest and most annoying God-lesson you will ever learn. God's time does not equal your time. God's way, isn't' your way. God's knowledge and sight are deeper and longer than your knowledge and sight. I don't love that fact, but it's a true fact.
Consider how you pray about situations in your life. Without realizing it, you may be demanding that God follow the schedule you've constructed according to your very limited human wisdom. I want God to give me jobs that let me have x, y, and z times free. But, really, if I'm provided for, then God's job is done. Satisfaction and perfection were not on the table in our discussion, just forgiveness and a commission to go. Or, I want MY candidate to win, but hey... God may know things I don't, and may want things I don't. (I get schooled e'ery day by people, friends, foes, and yes... God.)
However, Christian... let's just say this: if we *truly* believe He is who He says He is, how can surrendering to His way not be to our benefit? If we "really" believe in truth - wouldn't we actually walk and talk and live and share and help like we are following the teachings of Christ (loving God, loving others)? Wouldn't you actually do the stuff - the hard stuff like in the early first-generation church (sharing, leaving lots of comfortable religion and seeking to share what Jesus did for you with those that you'd likely never associate with) - that Jesus talked about if you believed he was real and coming back and you would have to account for your life? Because otherwise... you are just in a really strict social club. Sure, church is moral, and teaches good things and is fun. But church won't save you. Jesus will save you, then you go to church to hang out and collaborate with other saved, forgiven folks. Church isn't some magical thing that does the transforming. Jesus does that. Church is something you are a part of and something that is edifying, not the reason to be edified. That li'l Ghandi fellow said it nicely: "I like your Christ, I just don't like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." And that's just a powerful statement EVERY true believer and follower needs to be sensitive to... if we exuded Jesus, people wouldn't think we are all a bunch of hypocrites that equate affluent conservatives with "good christian folk." We wouldn't be de-friending people over Trump, Clinton or bathrooms if people just exuded Jesus. You'd love them anyway, have peace with them anyway and move on about your business of being grateful you got saved, and sharing the good news of your own testimony. Not legislating and bean-counting the worthiness of everyone else. #Oops #TooMuchMK #GoodChristiansJudgeDontThey #No
Think about His unique, praiseworthy qualities:
- His all-encompassing knowledge. Unlike us, Jesus has complete awareness about our world and the details of every individual life--past, present, and future. And He doesn't really need you keeping those details on anyone else. He can do just fine.
- His complete wisdom. God understands man's every motive, whereas you are unable to accurately discern people's intentions, until later. And even then, your own emotions and agenda get in the way. I know mine do. I love the Lord, and I try to show love to people, but even I have a hard time with some. God is way smarter than me and picks out paths that I can't even see or pattern. We make choices based on partial information, whereas He has the wisdom to take action based on truth.
- His unconditional love. Our Creator is always motivated by love and constantly has our best in mind. Unless we trust His heart, our view of reality will be distorted. And I say that because we truly have a tendency to say we 'love,' but we don't. Not like Him and not perfectly. We love with condition. We love with expectations. If I do this, you will do this, or I will stop doing this. That's human. But it's not God.
- His perfect sufficiency. At just the right time, God will provide us with everything we need to carry out His plan. Period.
Submitting to God's timetable and his planning requires faith AND courage. It's scary and it takes GUTS to follow the Lord. Believe in the goodness of His heart and His plans--and determine to wait until He gives the signal to move forward. Then, as you follow His schedule, you'll experience the joy of watching Him make all things beautiful in His timing. And you'll never ever be short of miracles to be amazed at. I am amazed every day at the things God does, when I listen, when I take on the things that scare me and possible even make other "christians" mad at me; but man, God has NEVER let me down in planning or in scheduling.
Cheers,
#JustBeingMichael ツ
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