[The "X" structure at the core of the Whirlpool Galaxy, taken by NASA) - A reminder that above everything, God chose us to be at the centre of His heart and plan]
Sometimes I visit my own blog just to look at the daily verse from Biblegateway in the sidebar. Today's verse is from Leviticus 19: 18 "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD".
What struck me is how after giving a command or instruction, God then says, "I am the LORD (in capital letters no less)". I know we're meant to analyse scripture in context so what I am about to say may not be accurate in light of where this verse sits in the Bible since I have not read the whole chapter surrounding it.
However, upon wondering why God chose to say that, this conclusion makes sense. He's reminding us that He alone is God and Lord. Which means He alone is sovereign over all. He alone. In other words it does not include us. I believe He is saying we should not take matters into our own hands, executing revenge to quench our rage or soothe our hurt. We don't get to judge and bear a grudge for we too are not faultless. The ultimate authority to judge and deliver an eternal sentence lies with God alone. We are no better or lesser than our neighbour and ought not to see ourselves or them higher or lower than what our (and their) God-given identity demands.
This leads me to what God once told me - what I deem to be justice isn't always what He knows to be true justice. My thoughts and ways are always going to be tainted with limited, sinful, self centred thinking. He knows the extent to which He can redeem a person. There is no situation that is beyond His ability to make good.
28 June addition (by Oswald Chambers):
The Overshadowing of God’s Personal Deliverance
". . . I am with you to deliver you,’ says the Lord" —Jeremiah 1: 8
God promised Jeremiah that He would deliver him personally— “. . . your life shall be as a prize to you . . .” (Jeremiah 39:18 ). That is all God promises His children. Wherever God sends us, He will guard our lives. Our personal property and possessions are to be a matter of indifference to us, and our hold on these things should be very loose. If this is not the case, we will have panic, heartache, and distress. Having the proper outlook is evidence of the deeply rooted belief in the overshadowing of God’s personal deliverance.
The Sermon on the Mount indicates that when we are on a mission for Jesus Christ, there is no time to stand up for ourselves. Jesus says, in effect, “Don’t worry about whether or not you are being treated justly.” Looking for justice is actually a sign that we have been diverted from our devotion to Him. Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it. If we look for justice, we will only begin to complain and to indulge ourselves in the discontent of self-pity, as if to say, “Why should I be treated like this?” If we are devoted to Jesus Christ, we have nothing to do with what we encounter, whether it is just or unjust. In essence, Jesus says, “Continue steadily on with what I have told you to do, and I will guard your life. If you try to guard it yourself, you remove yourself from My deliverance.” Even the most devout among us become atheistic in this regard— we do not believe Him. We put our common sense on the throne and then attach God’s name to it. We do lean to our own understanding, instead of trusting God with all our hearts (see Proverbs 3:5-6 ).
My question is this: Lord, why have You not been delivering children from abuse, disease and calamity? They couldn't have disqualified themselves from Your promise, being so young in years and knowledge. If You reveal Yourself to them, will they not believe and follow wholeheartedly with childlike faith and wonder? They would not know to devote themselves to other things willfully.
Jesus, please show me then where You were when they were being hurt. Help me understand how Your promises work in relation to such horrors. Please give me comprehension, clarity, wisdom and a deeper more personal revelation of Your grace, especially for those who bring the pain to the little ones. Enable me to see them through Your eyes and not burn with hatred because of what they are doing to others.
***********************************************************
28 June addition (by Oswald Chambers):
The Overshadowing of God’s Personal Deliverance
". . . I am with you to deliver you,’ says the Lord" —Jeremiah 1: 8
God promised Jeremiah that He would deliver him personally— “. . . your life shall be as a prize to you . . .” (Jeremiah 39:18 ). That is all God promises His children. Wherever God sends us, He will guard our lives. Our personal property and possessions are to be a matter of indifference to us, and our hold on these things should be very loose. If this is not the case, we will have panic, heartache, and distress. Having the proper outlook is evidence of the deeply rooted belief in the overshadowing of God’s personal deliverance.
The Sermon on the Mount indicates that when we are on a mission for Jesus Christ, there is no time to stand up for ourselves. Jesus says, in effect, “Don’t worry about whether or not you are being treated justly.” Looking for justice is actually a sign that we have been diverted from our devotion to Him. Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it. If we look for justice, we will only begin to complain and to indulge ourselves in the discontent of self-pity, as if to say, “Why should I be treated like this?” If we are devoted to Jesus Christ, we have nothing to do with what we encounter, whether it is just or unjust. In essence, Jesus says, “Continue steadily on with what I have told you to do, and I will guard your life. If you try to guard it yourself, you remove yourself from My deliverance.” Even the most devout among us become atheistic in this regard— we do not believe Him. We put our common sense on the throne and then attach God’s name to it. We do lean to our own understanding, instead of trusting God with all our hearts (see Proverbs 3:5-6 ).
***********************************************************
My question is this: Lord, why have You not been delivering children from abuse, disease and calamity? They couldn't have disqualified themselves from Your promise, being so young in years and knowledge. If You reveal Yourself to them, will they not believe and follow wholeheartedly with childlike faith and wonder? They would not know to devote themselves to other things willfully.
Jesus, please show me then where You were when they were being hurt. Help me understand how Your promises work in relation to such horrors. Please give me comprehension, clarity, wisdom and a deeper more personal revelation of Your grace, especially for those who bring the pain to the little ones. Enable me to see them through Your eyes and not burn with hatred because of what they are doing to others.
No comments:
Post a Comment