Swim lessons have not gone over very well with my daughter Abby. She especially does not like to go underwater. When we get into the water she will cling to me so tight, worried that I will let her go. I calmly try to assure her that I am not going to let her go and that there is nothing to be afraid of, but she does not buy it. She continues to cling more tightly. How I wish she would just trust me more, and the fun that she could have.
It's like that for us with God sometimes. Proverbs 3:5-6 tell us "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." But we have trouble doing this.
We read God's Word with a cautious eye. We are cautious to apply what we learn. We are cautious to believe it so fully without question. We raise questions. We raise doubts. We ask, "God, are you really sure?" We balk when he says to go, or to surrender, or to trust.
We ask God for proof. Or we ask God for a sign. However, the reality is the more we balk, the more we miss out on the blessings God has to offer. Trustfully study the Word, believe the Word, and apply the Word. Don't miss out on all the fun you could have.
Readings for next week:
May 18
1 Samuel 22:1-23:29
John 10:1-21
Psalm 115:1-18
Proverbs 15:18-19
May 19
1 Samuel 24:1-25:44
John 10:22-42
Psalm 116:1-19
Proverbs 15:20-21
May 20
1 Samuel 26:1-28:25
John 11:1-54
Psalm 117:1-2
Proverbs 15:22-23
May 21
1 Samuel 29:1-31:13
John 11:55-12:19
Psalm 118:1-18
Proverbs 15:24-26
May 22
2 Samuel 1:1-2:11
John 12:20-50
Psalm 118:19-29
Proverbs 15:27-28
May 23
2 Samuel 2:12-3:39
John 13:1-30
Psalm 119:1-16
Proverbs 15:29-30
May 24
2 Samuel 4:1-6:23
John 13:31-14:14
Psalm 119:17-32
Proverbs 15:31-32
It's like that for us with God sometimes. Proverbs 3:5-6 tell us "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." But we have trouble doing this.
We read God's Word with a cautious eye. We are cautious to apply what we learn. We are cautious to believe it so fully without question. We raise questions. We raise doubts. We ask, "God, are you really sure?" We balk when he says to go, or to surrender, or to trust.
We ask God for proof. Or we ask God for a sign. However, the reality is the more we balk, the more we miss out on the blessings God has to offer. Trustfully study the Word, believe the Word, and apply the Word. Don't miss out on all the fun you could have.
Readings for next week:
May 18
1 Samuel 22:1-23:29
John 10:1-21
Psalm 115:1-18
Proverbs 15:18-19
May 19
1 Samuel 24:1-25:44
John 10:22-42
Psalm 116:1-19
Proverbs 15:20-21
May 20
1 Samuel 26:1-28:25
John 11:1-54
Psalm 117:1-2
Proverbs 15:22-23
May 21
1 Samuel 29:1-31:13
John 11:55-12:19
Psalm 118:1-18
Proverbs 15:24-26
May 22
2 Samuel 1:1-2:11
John 12:20-50
Psalm 118:19-29
Proverbs 15:27-28
May 23
2 Samuel 2:12-3:39
John 13:1-30
Psalm 119:1-16
Proverbs 15:29-30
May 24
2 Samuel 4:1-6:23
John 13:31-14:14
Psalm 119:17-32
Proverbs 15:31-32
1 comment:
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
If anyone could do a little boasting, it was Paul. Remember the context of this passage? Paul had just returned from an all expense paid cruise of heaven. Not everyone goes on that excursion and wakes up with his heart still pumping blood. So you can imagine that was an experience Paul wanted to mix in to a sermon or two.
To keep Paul "from becoming conceited," God arranged for an unpleasant "messenger." Paul never tells us exactly what the "thorn in the flesh" was. But Paul does explain that he prayed fervently for God take to take it away. God, however, had another plan.
The messenger was to keep Paul's human condition in check. It was present to keep Paul "weak." The "weakness" forced Paul to draw from God's strength. So Paul turned the tables and started boasting about his weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties. He knew that his weaknesses forced him to depend on God.
Okay, ball's in your court. Going through a tough time? Depend on yourself and remain weak. Or...turn to God and be strong. Sounds like a no-brainer to me.
Selah.
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