Today’s post is redirection to Skip’s post this morning… mainly because my little man, G. has decided that 5:30am is NOT too early to be up… So not much peace will ensue from this point until 6am when he’s actually allowed out of bed. Anyhow, the imagery in this post is haunting (to say the least), but it’s an interesting comment on the way we were and the way we are. Check it out.
Romans 2: 24 No wonder the Scriptures say, “The world blasphemes the name of God because of you.” I was reading Romans and this verse made me pause. First, the image of those preachers and people who get on TV and teach about God, but then turn around and are cheating on their spouses or stealing money from their foundation, come to mind. But then also I think about the times when I have behaved poorly towards other people, especially my students, and the verse really hits home. Do my actions cause others to curse the name of God because they see me, a Christ-follower, behaving in such a way that they think that all Christ-followers are like that and heaven knows, they wouldn’t want to be like that! Would they think, if all Christ-followers are like that, why would I want to know this God of theirs? That’s a scary thought! I want to be a light to those around me and act in such a way that people want to know what’s different – in a good way. I know that a lot (especially at school) I fall pretty short of that because I lose my temper or speak poorly of someone or complain because I’m frustrated. Thankfully God gives me a new start each day. Unfortunately, human memory is much longer than God’s, and the damage I do today may get forgiven by God, but live on ripping through the lives of others. So, the question I need to ask myself is, do my actions set me apart as a light in the dark, or do my actions spread darkness and cause others to turn away from God?
Micah 7:8 Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD himself will be my light. This verse is so full of hope! There’s sorrow, too. Micah doesn’t say,”if” I fall; he says “though”. Failure is inevitable because we are sinful. Darkness is inevitable because we are sinful. However, sin and darkness do not mean we are overcome and hopeless. We have the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we will rise again. And though we sin and are so limited in our sight, the Lord himself will guide us and show us what is right! That is so awesome! God doesn’t send some angel or book or person to be our light. He does it Himself! That is very cool! However you want to look at this verse, it gives me hope that my mistakes aren’t the be-all and end-all. Though things seem dark right now and though I feel like I’ve fallen flat on my face, at the bottom of the barrel, there is light and there will come a time when I will rise and stand again. And considering how many people probably feel that way (especially with the economy in the condition its in), this should be a verse that we cling to and remember that God does not desert Him people. He Himself lights the way! Yeah God!