An Epiphany

[Puritanhead]

I just was thinking that I could never get as committed to the Lord God as He is already committed to me. Great is thy faithfulness O Lord!

I am thankful that the Lord is the author and perfector of my faith, and He will bring the good work which He started in me to fruition. Without the Lord I am nothing.

 

[BobVigneault]

Thank you for sharing that Ryan. I have had a similar epiphany reading through Lamentations chapter 3 which of course you make allusion to. (Lam 3:21-23) What a mind stretching piece of scripture! The sovereignty, the mercy, the judgment, the faithfulness and the standfast love of God all emphasized. Our God who judges his own not from his heart but from duty. (Lam. 3:31-33) Wishing that all his children were righteous.

It is a scripture written for and by one who only knows God in the intimacy of suffering and mercy, in brokeness and restoration, in rejection and reconciliaton. Amen.

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

John 15.4-5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

 

[BJClark]

I had similiar thoughts recently after caring for a someone who is hurting because of things said and done after the loss of a loved one.

Psalm 118:8

"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put our confidence in man."

Many times we tend to carry the opinion that because a person has a title or position within a body of Christ, they are not capable of reacting or acting in the flesh. We hold them up in esteem, but yet, forget they are not to be esteemed as greater than what they are.

Even though we tend to look at others as having failed us, or us having failed them, it is more true to say that we or they have failed God. We tend to forget that all offenses are ultimately not against us (even though we or others may suffer because of them), but they are even more so against God.

Who even though I fail Him miserably, He still loves me. He is still faithful, even when I or others are not.

[Edited on 8-16-2006 by BJClark]

 

[Arch2k]

"Grace is the understanding that God is a better savior than you are a sinner." --Christopher Love