108 I wanted Holidays from the school of Christ. Not only do we want our distance from Christ but we also want tangibles---kids turning out right, even things that make us feel closer to God. Nothing wrong with the vehicle. Everything wrong with the motive. #60000thoughts #talkingtomyself
Judges 10:1 - Abimilech debauched Isreal with evil, disquieted Israel with ambition, disturbed Israel's very peace. Then, God raises up a good man to reform the abuses, stop the idolatry, and heal the wounds. This new judge saved them from themselves. And it should be our very hope, too. May God save us from ourselves---from wanting ambition in this celebrity world; from wanting ministry success in this storied mission; from wanting to live in this present life more than dealing with daily repentance; from wanting more than God and what He has planned and offered to each of us. Save us from oursleves.
Fast Forward 2,000+ years. It happens to every one of us as we wrestle through this God thing.
From a Favorite Book: "Though I wouldn't have admitted it, even to myself, I didn't want God aboard. He was too heavy. I wanted Him approving from a considerable distance. I didn't want to be thinking of Him. I wanted to be free---like a Gypsy. I wanted life itself, the color and fire and loveliness of life. And Christ now and then, like a loved poem I could read when I wanted to. I didn't want us to be swallowed up in God. I wanted holidays from the school of Christ." Sheldon Vanauken "A Severe Mercy"
Not only do we want our distance from God but we want tangibles---those things that draw us, make us feel closer to God. Nothing wrong with the vehicle. Everything wrong with the motive.
Sheldon wrote: "I had always served beauty. My wife and I together had loved beauty. Now, maybe, I was worshipping beauty in the Christian God while my wife was worshipping God. There may be danger in the love of beauty, though it seems treason to say it. Perhaps it can be a snare."
And just maybe today we are worshipping music, health, success, ministry, justice, mission, even our children turning out right. Are we worshipping God or what is way too important in our hands?
Vow and pay. Psalm 76. This vow story belongs to each of us who live and breathe and vow.
According to Henry's commentary, Jephthah’s sense of the powerful obligation of his vow must always be ours: "I have opened my mouth unto the Lord in a solemn vow, and I cannot go back,’’ (Judges 11:35) that is, "I cannot recall the vow myself, it is too late, nor can any power on earth dispense with it, or give me up my bond.’’
We deceive ourselves if we think to mock God, says Henry.
What a powerful argument a marriage vow is against my sin,
we have by those vows bound ourselves out from,
"what a strong inducement to our duties we have hereby
bound ourselves up to, and what a ready answer to every temptation."
I must therefore go forward.
I have sworn, and I must, I will, perform it.
Let me not dare to play fast and loose with God."
This daughter did not.
Instead of dancing at her wedding,
her closest friends mourn in the mountains her hard fate.
Her grievances belonged to her friends.
And to her father:
"I know I am dear to you, but am well content that God should be dearer."
PHOTO: I know I am dear to you. Solemn vows made 46 years ago this year. Standing on a suspended bridge on a train stop through the most scariest Colorado mountains
No comments:
Post a Comment