Ephesians 2:1-10 tells a great story. My story. Your story. It recounts my years of hopeless service to my own desires and passions. Then comes the important part, "But God." (2:4)
In the midst of my slavery to myself, God stepped in. The life and fulfillment I had sought through my own slavish efforts, He gave me. My soul was lost in darkness, but God...
It gets even better.
This "But God" was not just about pity. God stepped in because He loves me. God stepped in because I have a destiny in Him.
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (2:10)
If you can look back across your journey and see your own "But God," have you considered recently His love for you? Have you been in pursuit of the good works that you were created to do?
1.29.2008
1.18.2008
Hope in the Mundane
This January, many of us have been examining "Haggai" and God's call to rebuild Yahweh's temple in the Old Testament. This was quite an imposing task for a bunch of returned exiles - the original temple took millions of dollars: laborers, the best building materials that the world had to offer, a ridiculous amount of gold, etc. So, like all severely overwhelmed people, they didn't do anything.
Then comes a great surprise. God sends word, "Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified." (Haggai 1:8)
Right now, you may be thinking, "So what."
Here's the point. God wanted His house built. The people had nothing "valuable" with which to build it. And God didn't care.
I can relate to this. I want to answer God's call. I have nothing extraordinary to build with. All I've got is the plain and the ordinary. Perhaps that's all that you've got, too. Perhaps you've been reluctant to begin working with your meager opportunities, talents, and resources. Perhaps you're afraid God might show up and take note of the quality of your work, "How is my house coming along? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?" (2:3) After all, He showed up to ask the Israelites.
This is our great hope. Our best really may not amount to much. It doesn't matter. God has redeemed the ordinary. God has redeemed the simple. God has redeemed the modest. God has redeemed the mundane. And He is calling.
Then comes a great surprise. God sends word, "Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified." (Haggai 1:8)Right now, you may be thinking, "So what."
Here's the point. God wanted His house built. The people had nothing "valuable" with which to build it. And God didn't care.
I can relate to this. I want to answer God's call. I have nothing extraordinary to build with. All I've got is the plain and the ordinary. Perhaps that's all that you've got, too. Perhaps you've been reluctant to begin working with your meager opportunities, talents, and resources. Perhaps you're afraid God might show up and take note of the quality of your work, "How is my house coming along? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?" (2:3) After all, He showed up to ask the Israelites.
This is our great hope. Our best really may not amount to much. It doesn't matter. God has redeemed the ordinary. God has redeemed the simple. God has redeemed the modest. God has redeemed the mundane. And He is calling.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
