Sunday's sermon was really excellent. That, along with one of the worship songs, got us really thinking about how much we believe what Jesus says. The song is called "In Christ Alone" and sounds very hymn-like even though it's relatively new... the last verse says this:
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
Both of us really feel like we "trust" God for most things but to really be so confident in what His plans are for us... we definitely feel like there is a lot of ground to be made up!! In the sermon, Steve was talking about when King Herod killed all the male children, age 2 and under, and how Matthew says it was a fulfillment of prophesy. I'm sure most mothers did not see it as God's plan being accomplished at the time, as I'm sure many families were devastated by Herod's jealousy. It was a terrible tragedy, and I would like to say that tragedies on that scale do not occur today because they do, just not publicly. But it really got Mark and I to start considering the way we look at circumstances in our lives. Instead of looking for fixes, do we look to God for guidance and assurance? Or do we look for human solutions and personal happiness? I know I'm usually the latter.
I also started thinking about why I don't give God as much credit as He deserves and was just trying to think about Him and who He is. Steve was talking about Jesus being the new ruler, so I started to think about what it looks like for us to serve a King. I can imagine, that if I knew Queen Elizabeth and she offered to take care of all my needs for all of time if I just made myself about her goals and did whatever she asked that it would be a pretty nice gig, yeah? Well, maybe not awesome, seeing that she is human and may have selfish goals and not completely desire the best for me... but God is far beyond that. He not only has power over earthly circumstances in one small country, but He has power above all creation over all time!!! Seriously, we really have such a limited idea of how much that is... well, maybe we don't and that is why we don't trust Him. We think "Yeah, He can do anything, but really, is He going to do much for me?" I know that I too, seriously misunderstand the completeness of God's goodness and love towards us.
Take this verse: "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?" Matthew 7:11 If I, being selfish and caring mostly for myself, know how to being loving and caring and want good for my kids, how much more does God, who is completely perfect, brilliant and good, want to show us goodness when we ask!!! In America, many people have loftly dreams but we tell people to always keep their feet on the ground, attempt something more attainable... but God can do the impossible, and if we aim for God's will we should attempt the impossible so that it is only possible with God.
All of this to say, I truly desire to be about God's business and should not question the circumstances of my life as long as I am pursuing God, for He knows better than I do and He loves me more than I could ever comprehend. I really want to believe that and there's no way without Him that I can!
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
Both of us really feel like we "trust" God for most things but to really be so confident in what His plans are for us... we definitely feel like there is a lot of ground to be made up!! In the sermon, Steve was talking about when King Herod killed all the male children, age 2 and under, and how Matthew says it was a fulfillment of prophesy. I'm sure most mothers did not see it as God's plan being accomplished at the time, as I'm sure many families were devastated by Herod's jealousy. It was a terrible tragedy, and I would like to say that tragedies on that scale do not occur today because they do, just not publicly. But it really got Mark and I to start considering the way we look at circumstances in our lives. Instead of looking for fixes, do we look to God for guidance and assurance? Or do we look for human solutions and personal happiness? I know I'm usually the latter.
I also started thinking about why I don't give God as much credit as He deserves and was just trying to think about Him and who He is. Steve was talking about Jesus being the new ruler, so I started to think about what it looks like for us to serve a King. I can imagine, that if I knew Queen Elizabeth and she offered to take care of all my needs for all of time if I just made myself about her goals and did whatever she asked that it would be a pretty nice gig, yeah? Well, maybe not awesome, seeing that she is human and may have selfish goals and not completely desire the best for me... but God is far beyond that. He not only has power over earthly circumstances in one small country, but He has power above all creation over all time!!! Seriously, we really have such a limited idea of how much that is... well, maybe we don't and that is why we don't trust Him. We think "Yeah, He can do anything, but really, is He going to do much for me?" I know that I too, seriously misunderstand the completeness of God's goodness and love towards us.
Take this verse: "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?" Matthew 7:11 If I, being selfish and caring mostly for myself, know how to being loving and caring and want good for my kids, how much more does God, who is completely perfect, brilliant and good, want to show us goodness when we ask!!! In America, many people have loftly dreams but we tell people to always keep their feet on the ground, attempt something more attainable... but God can do the impossible, and if we aim for God's will we should attempt the impossible so that it is only possible with God.
All of this to say, I truly desire to be about God's business and should not question the circumstances of my life as long as I am pursuing God, for He knows better than I do and He loves me more than I could ever comprehend. I really want to believe that and there's no way without Him that I can!
