Romans 8: 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
I am going to talk only about me.. but hopefully we can all put our own selves in this same scenerio...
when I was young.. I was a spoiled brat... you couldn't tell me anything.. because I knew everything.. all the gifts that God had given me were just my idea of why I was so wonderful... I knew that God had given them to me.. but He did it because I was so wonderful... and people who didn't like me.. well.. that was their own insecurities showing up in their jealousy...
now... all these years later.. God has shown me.. through rough circumstances.. that nothing I have or am is anything.. and He could sweep it all away in the blink of an eye... I am a person of value.. not because of me.. but because of God within me.. God shining out of me is the only value that I have... that is not low self esteem.. that is knowing that God is in control of all... that I am only what He allows me to be.. I am a much better person than I was when I thought I was great.. I can see other people now.. before I was the center of the universe... now I can allow others to be my universe...
my son is continuously putting himself in a bad situation.. he gets out of one and right back into another.. while I know that much of this is due to the circumstances he grew up in.. I also know that God is working things out for his good... so I have to sit back sometimes and just allow it... I wish he didn't have to smack his head off the brick wall all the time.. but I know that until he is the man that God created him to be.. he is not of any eternal value... so when God changes him through all these circumstances.. it can be God getting the glory for the magnificent change that has taken place..
if we look at the fruit of the Spirit.. they are love, peace, joy, kindness, gentleness, goodness, compassion.. these attributes are built into us.. not by the easy situations in our lives.. but instead by the hard ones.. it is through walking through hell that we learn what it feels like to just need someone to reach out and hug us.. or pray with us.. or just be kind sometimes... that is what creates these attributes in us...
so while we don't want someone else to go through all the tragedy they may experience.. whether it is self induced or not... these are the things that make us and mold us into the children that God is willing to smile down and say.. that one is Mine...
I think it is time that we all learn to be thankful for the things that have broken us to the point where we are worth something to God.. now.. after the bad experiences.. He can use us.. because we are the image of Him.. after we have gone through circumstances that have broken all the self off of us.. we are now like new creatures.. soft and loving.. in the image of God.. and for our loved ones who are still banging their head off the brick walls.. we can rest assured that just like God continued to chase us down.. He will chase them down too.. and they too will be soft and loving.. and in the image of God... ready for kingdom work..
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