Experiencing life together through the One Year Bible
Friday, January 2, 2009
Week 2 (Jan 5th- 11th)
I've gone ahead and posted week 2 because a majority of the staff will be on our Mission Trip in Mexico and will not have internet. Don't be discouraged to those who have internet. I want this blog to be an opportunity for all to share.
Today, I was reading about Sarah and Abraham and how Sarah was so desperate to have a child that she gave Hagar, her servant, to Abraham as a wife and well,you know the rest.The one thing that struck me is the complications that arose between Hagar and Sarah and how that if Sarah had just waited on God she wouldn't have had all the trouble with Hagar. It made me think about how sometimes that I sometimes try to forge ahead and make things happen for myself, just like when Sarah was trying to make sure she had a son. I just thought about how the Lord is so gracious to me,and that even when I let my independant streak take hold and try to get ahead of Him, he still knows what to do to fix it, and how he still makes His plan and blessing come to pass no matter what, just like with Isaac. Isaac was the Son of Promise, the Big Dream that Abraham and Sarah had, and even though they both messed up and tried to get ahead of Him, The Lord still blessed them with their dream. That in itself just shows what an amazing and loving God I serve. He's so gracious.
I completely agree with what Rachel said. The minute I try to makes something happen on my own, independent from God, I can almost guarantee trouble is around the bend. I am feeling bad for Hagar right now. I cannot imagine the anguish she is suffering during this part of the story. It must have taken real guts to go back to Sarah.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MATTHEW 6:25! IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITES, BECAUSE I WORRY WAY TOO MUCH! AND EVERY TIME I READ THAT THIS HUGE BURDEN LIFTS OFF MY SHOULDERS. I HAVE TO ASK MYSELF WHY SO LITTLE FAITH WHEN IT COMES TO MY PROBLEMS. IT'S SOMETHING I AM WORKING ON MOST DEFINITELY! THE LORD IS GOOD AND WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE!
P.S. SORRY FOR THE CAPS! MY BUTTON IS STUCK. HAHA.
The sermon on the mount is so rich. I am familiar with all of these verses, but reading them this week was like reading them with new eyes. Why have I never questioned these before? The things Jesus says are extraordinary, but I guess after hearing them so many times I became calloused to their meaning. Matthew 6:14-15 in particular. The ESV says this:
"14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Growing up in church and at Camp, everyone always told me that if you just ask Him to, God will forgive your sins, period. But in this verse, Jesus seems to think otherwise. It is contradictory to the idea of grace that we must earn God's forgiveness by first forgiving others.. so what does Jesus mean here?
I have ideas, but I don't want to try to quickly answer my questions to ease the unease I feel. I think it's a good unease, and I welcome anyone else's ideas on reconciling God's grace to Matt 6:14-15 (and also 7:1-2).
Emily, that is great obeservation. If I may, I would like to share with you what the Lord has shown me about that certain passage of Scripture.
In verse 14 and 15 when it says:
"14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
What the Lord has shown me about this is that I must be ready and willing to forgive others when they do wrong against me. Holding onto unforgiveness is a sin because of the bitterness and desctruction it can bring to my own spirit. Jesus won't forgive us because of that, nor will he answer our prayers because we are willingly holding on to sin.
His Grace stays free no matter what from "Age to Age." We simply make the choice to accept it on His terms, not our own. Its a battle of the flesh and spirit. We have to decide what is more important, living by the Spirit and humbling ourselves, or living by the Flesh which holds onto foolish pride.
"Pride goes before destruction, Haughtiness before a fall." Proverbs 16:18
Today, I was reading about Sarah and Abraham and how Sarah was so desperate to have a child that she gave Hagar, her servant, to Abraham as a wife and well,you know the rest.The one thing that struck me is the complications that arose between Hagar and Sarah and how that if Sarah had just waited on God she wouldn't have had all the trouble with Hagar.
ReplyDeleteIt made me think about how sometimes that I sometimes try to forge ahead and make things happen for myself, just like when Sarah was trying to make sure she had a son. I just thought about how the Lord is so gracious to me,and that even when I let my independant streak take hold and try to get ahead of Him, he still knows what to do to fix it, and how he still makes His plan and blessing come to pass no matter what, just like with Isaac. Isaac was the Son of Promise, the Big Dream that Abraham and Sarah had, and even though they both messed up and tried to get ahead of Him, The Lord still blessed them with their dream. That in itself just shows what an amazing and loving God I serve. He's so gracious.
I completely agree with what Rachel said. The minute I try to makes something happen on my own, independent from God, I can almost guarantee trouble is around the bend. I am feeling bad for Hagar right now. I cannot imagine the anguish she is suffering during this part of the story. It must have taken real guts to go back to Sarah.
ReplyDeleteI ABSOLUTELY LOVE MATTHEW 6:25! IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITES, BECAUSE I WORRY WAY TOO MUCH! AND EVERY TIME I READ THAT THIS HUGE BURDEN LIFTS OFF MY SHOULDERS. I HAVE TO ASK MYSELF WHY SO LITTLE FAITH WHEN IT COMES TO MY PROBLEMS. IT'S SOMETHING I AM WORKING ON MOST DEFINITELY! THE LORD IS GOOD AND WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE!
ReplyDeleteP.S. SORRY FOR THE CAPS! MY BUTTON IS STUCK. HAHA.
The sermon on the mount is so rich. I am familiar with all of these verses, but reading them this week was like reading them with new eyes. Why have I never questioned these before? The things Jesus says are extraordinary, but I guess after hearing them so many times I became calloused to their meaning. Matthew 6:14-15 in particular. The ESV says this:
ReplyDelete"14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Growing up in church and at Camp, everyone always told me that if you just ask Him to, God will forgive your sins, period. But in this verse, Jesus seems to think otherwise. It is contradictory to the idea of grace that we must earn God's forgiveness by first forgiving others.. so what does Jesus mean here?
I have ideas, but I don't want to try to quickly answer my questions to ease the unease I feel. I think it's a good unease, and I welcome anyone else's ideas on reconciling God's grace to Matt 6:14-15 (and also 7:1-2).
Emily, that is great obeservation. If I may, I would like to share with you what the Lord has shown me about that certain passage of Scripture.
ReplyDeleteIn verse 14 and 15 when it says:
"14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
What the Lord has shown me about this is that I must be ready and willing to forgive others when they do wrong against me. Holding onto unforgiveness is a sin because of the bitterness and desctruction it can bring to my own spirit. Jesus won't forgive us because of that, nor will he answer our prayers because we are willingly holding on to sin.
His Grace stays free no matter what from "Age to Age." We simply make the choice to accept it on His terms, not our own. Its a battle of the flesh and spirit. We have to decide what is more important, living by the Spirit and humbling ourselves, or living by the Flesh which holds onto foolish pride.
"Pride goes before destruction, Haughtiness before a fall." Proverbs 16:18