"At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen." 2 Timothy 4:16-18
"The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; He utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Come, behold the works of the Lord, how He has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the chariots with fire. ‘Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!’ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah" Psalm 46:6-11
Sometimes I miss things, really incredibly (should be obvious) kinds of things - and then when I see it, I feel like an idiot. Like a really happy idiot though, because now I see and now I’m not an idiot, at least about this one thing. In today’s readings, I had one of those moments. I must have read that “be still and know that I am God” passage hundreds of times. I’m a control freak (please try to contain your shock). People often quote this verse to me to help me gain perspective, and I try, really I do. But it has always felt so passive to me and I struggle with that. I want to be in charge, I want to handle things, I want to do, not to be, especially in the thick of things. I can handle being still and quiet when things are calm and life is being compliant with my plan (yeah, I know). But when life is hard and messy, I want to fight! And anyone that knows me, knows that I love a good fight. But as I read the scripture from Psalms again, in its full context, I was blown away! That “be still” passage is right in the middle of the battle! He speaks and the earth melts, He snaps our weapons like twigs, He burns our defenses with fire, because HE is the Lord of Hosts! He is the VICTOR! He is our SAVIOR! It’s not a meek exhortation to be still and sit quietly, it’s a command from the THE COMMANDER to sit down and shut up while Daddy goes to war! But don’t run and hide, stay right here, by my side and watch how the Lord of Hosts wins a fight. I think that is how Paul was able to forgive his deserters, he didn’t need them. Now, I know that I’m hard-pressed to forgive people when I feel like they should have been by my side, but really, do I need anyone else? Paul was able to see that. He knew the forgiveness that the Lord had afforded him. The sins committed against him paled in comparison! Forgiveness is easier for me when I remember my own sin, when I force myself to remember the cost of my own redemption. Paul saw it so clearly, the Lord of Hosts fighting, the God of all grace and mercy pouring out forgiveness. Lord, help me to see clearly!!
#shereadstruth #SRT #happyidiot
