Jesus Loves Us So

What good lessons this week. I love how Jesus uses the stories in the Bible to teach and instruct us. It's even better that they are still pertinent to us today. I struggled with using the word "sweet" to describe Jesus a while back, but our lessons this week do bring me to a place of sweetness. God's plan is so detailed, and His desire for relationship with us so strong, that He uses every story or metaphor available to pierce our consciousness into an awareness of Him.

I like to go to the commentators, and especially enjoy David Gudzik at blueletterbible.com. Some of the things I walked away with this week from his writings are:

• Just because you have a tough time in a tough circumstance doesn't mean you are walking in unbelief. Unbelief is when you ignore or reject a promise of God (what a comfort!)
• Gudzik quoting "Morgan" - (don't know who that is): Many Christians think the boat is going down--the boat cannot go down - Jesus is on board!
• When people are more afraid of what Jesus will do in their lives than what Satan is doing in their lives right now they often push Jesus away
• Whom God calls, God equips
• What we have in ourselves to give others is insignificant, but when we put it in Jesus hands He can do great things with our gifts and talents to touch the lives of others.
• Jesus:Who do you say I am? We answer this every day by what we say and do. If we really believe Jesus, it will affect the way we live.

I'm so thankful that Jesus will help me to surrender more and more of myself, and look forward to the day that I want Him, and only Him, to fill up all my empty places . . .

God Working in Me

I wonder how God can love us don't you?

This week, God has shown me some unlovely things about myself through behaviors that I choose.

One day, I walked past some people that could have used my help, but, because other people were stepping up, I made a choice not to. I was too wrapped up in my own selfish plans to stop and care.

This week I have also chosen to indulge in behaviors that don't reflect trust in God's plan for my life. I'm forever trying to orchestra events into something control-able - as if that was even possible. I could have ruined a friendship, but thankfully did not.

Naturally, this week's lessons show me how unlike Jesus I am, and how far away I am from surrendering my agenda to Him. Forgive-able? Yes, but I am disappointed in myself. I'm changed - Forgiven! And yet, so far from having a nature that reflects God.

How much I have to learn about truly surrendering to Jesus and trusting Him. I'm pretty sure if I had been the Centurion, I would have have acted like I knew Jesus could heal, but pretty sure I would have been doubting in my heart. If I had been the widow with my son restored to me, how long would I have been amazed and filled with gratitude, before I just started taking life for granted again?

Jesus keeps teaching me over and over again.

For this reason, when Beth asks if we are convinced that God is kind, even sweet, I have to say a resounding "no"! Thankfully, I think God is much tougher than sweet--He expects and wants me to grow into the woman He created me to be. That means He disciplines me, prompts me with the Holy Spirit - shines that light on what is lacking in me.

Some synonyms for sweet are Beloved; Cherished. Those resonate with me. If God is my Beloved, then I am more apt to desire to be His beloved.

Gudzik states on Ephesians 2:1-4:

Every reason for God’s mercy and love is found in Him. We give Him no reason to love us, yet in the greatness of His love, He loves us with that great love anyway.

Therefore, we must stop trying to make ourselves lovable to God, and simply receive His great love while recognizing that we are unworthy of it. This is the grace secret of the Christian life.

He further states (Ephesians 2:5-7):

This is the requirement for being saved. You must first be dead, dead to every attempt to justify yourself before God. He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me . . . has passed from death into life (John 5:24).

God has shown me this week, that I am still in desperate need of His work in me. I'm so glad that He never stops showing me!

My Real Boss

I was a little bored with the first two days of week three, but Beth is starting to "hit it home" in day three. I loved her reflections on surrendering our work to God. I had to get a little giggle out of it too. Is it that the Bible studies hit home with what is happening in our lives, or does God's word just apply to whatever situation we're in? Of course, His word does apply to everything, but every time I do a study, it sure seems to apply to something that is going on in my life, and that I can learn a lesson from.

I love what the Bible says about our jobs. Here's Colossians 3:23-24 from the Amplified version:

Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul) as [something done] for the Lord and not for men. Knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [real] reward. [the one whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ (the Messiah).

I love this. If we're cleaning toilets, doing laundry, answering the phone, working in a factory line or a white collar position. If we love our jobs, if we hate our jobs--if we love our bosses, if we hate our bosses - no matter - our real boss is the Lord,and He's the one who loves and rewards us. Seems like this sure should make us want to jump out of bed in the morning , doesn't it!

I can testify to this in a small way. There are so many days I say, Lord, I'm just not smart enough for this job - give me Your wisdom. Or Lord, I'm not patient enough for this job - give me Your patience, Lord, I'm too tired to do this job today, give me Your energy. You know what, He has always been faithful. He's answered those prayers. I think sometimes we forget, we just have to ask. He is always ready to help.

Week Two

I'm looking forward to learning to love Jesus more, and to make Him my one and only during this study. It's going to be fun to get deeper into the study as we move forward--it feels good to be moving through the introductory lessons and towards a deeper understanding of the message God has for us.

I really liked page 34 of the study, where we go into some of the New Testament verses. I particularly liked Colossians 2:11-15 where the scripture speaks to our spiritual circumcision. I'm not sure that I thought very deeply about just what this means prior to this study. I was inspired to go to the commentaries (blueletterbible.com) where David Guzik emphasizes:

Before a person comes to life in Jesus they are dead. They are not sick people who need a doctor, they are dead people who need a Savior."

". . . a trespass is overstepping a boundary . . . we overstep God's boundaries in sin and rebellion"

. . . our trespasses have been nailed to the cross. We get in trouble when we take it down and carry it around with us"

Amen to that - I have to learn to leave my trespasses on the cross where they have been paid for for all time.

In this crazy world, where it seems that I, at least, am spinning in circles and accomplishing nothing much but the frustrating feeling that I'm not accomplishing much, it is so good to slow down and see how God has really planned a better life for me. It's a life that I want to be "good medicine" (Proverbs 17:22, pg. 44). I want a "cheerful mind that works healing"on those people that are in that crazy spinning circle with me.

One of the best things about Bible study is the way that we all learn from each other. It so cheers me to be with other women who love Jesus, and desire to give their lives for Him.

At some point in this week's lessons, Beth says, "fathom the unfathomable". It is hard to get our minds and hearts around just how much God loves us. I wonder what He will reveal to us during this course of study?