The Lord has no equal. We are all subject to His judgement as well as His love and grace. He will protect the weak and poor and give them refuge. The Israelis have found favor with God but at a cost. That cost is glorifying Him. Who can stand against God? He is our loving Father and we are his needy children.
God's wisdom isn't definable by our standards, we're human, He's the Creator. His love has no boundaries.
We have been given the promise of eternal life through His Son's death on the cross for us. How can you measure that?
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God will protect the weak and poor and give them refuge --- I find the same message in today's reading as Mark.
ReplyDeleteThe weak and poor are protected, their burden is lifted, "the yoke will be taken from my people and the burden lifted from their shoulders." (v. 25). And the powerful will be crushed.
The role of power in our society and in God's plan fascinates me. God has used the power of the Assyrians and Babylonians as a tool to teach the Israelites - but there is no power like God's.
I was told once that a person's power should be in proportion to his/her responsibility. This is true in any situation - politics, business, church life, family life. We all have power in some form in various roles we play in our life. Is our power proportionate to our responsibility? Do we allow our power in various situations to be God's tool?
We are blessed to be a blessing. Period. The power to crush is God's alone. When we are being crushed, we should certainly cry out in pain and anguish to God to save, protect, and deliver us. Sometimes God is punishing us, but most of the time we are punishing ourselves or someone is exerting their power over us.
ReplyDeleteRegarding our enemies, we are to kill 'em with kindness. God may decide to just plain kill them or punish them, but that's not our place. Our primary role in life is to be a loving and forgiving presence everywhere we go.
Let's wash one another's feet. Let's feed the hungry with things that will actually fill them...like God.
I'm a bit confused by Matthew's post. I'm not seeeing a strong tie to the chapter, so I'm thinking it may be a response to mine. If that is the case, I may have been misunderstood - certainly possible in this strange form of "communication."
ReplyDeleteI am not talking about the "Power to crush." I am talking about power - pure and simple. We all have it, we all use it. It is not a bad thing or a good thing, it is reality. Like all of our gifts and weaknesses, it is to be used for God's glory.
For example, I have power over my children. And I have proportionate responsibility for them. They rely on me for many things - and as I provide for them, they also answer to me for their behavior. I can take away the iPod - that's true power in our house.
So how do I allow God to use me? As servants of God, we are to be used in our fullness. God doesn't want seminary professors who say "Here I am, use me..but I'm not really that smart." God doesn't want Rock to deny he's incredibly talented (nor do we!).
Humility isn't denying the power (or talents or gifts) we've been given...it's serving God and each other with all that we have at our disposal. Jesus did not deny he had the power to cast out demons when he stooped to wash feet.
God used the Assyrians and their power in God's plan. They got a little big for their britches - beleiving they were more powerful than God - and God destroyed them accordingly.
How will God use me and my power? For one, God is using it to make sure my children learn to worship - I make them go.
In other areas of our lives, How do we allow our power in various situations to be God's tool?
The stream of consciousness that comes with a blog is unique. I was actually responding to the feelings I had while reading the text. Thanks for another great post, Kelly.
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