#readscripture

"In the chronic problem of human beings' felt experience of distance from God, God isn't usually the culprit. God is omnipresent - there is no place God is not. And no time He isn't present either. ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ Our awareness of God is the problem, and it's acute. ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ Could it be that, with a few said exceptions, we're the ones who are absent, not God?" ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ (John Mark Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry)

Romans 5:8 says that God shows His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ Your worth, value, and God's love for you are not dependent upon your behaviour, your actions, or how you feel. Jesus died for you before you were even aware of your sin. ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ And here's the best part - Paul writes that God SHOWS His love for us in Christ dying for us. Active tense, not past. He's still doing it. ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ May He show that to you today.

"A valid answer is no." ⠀⠀⠀⠀ This is the lyric that's been bouncing around in my mind the past few days, from @sarahsparksmusic new song, "The Control Line". Too often we think that God is absent when we don't get what we've prayed for. Or we think that the answer might be "yes, but not yet." Or we think that maybe we've just prayed for slightly the wrong thing, and we just need to adjust our wording... ⠀⠀⠀⠀ But maybe, just maybe, a valid answer from the Lord is actually just "no". ⠀⠀⠀⠀ In His loving-kindness, in His sovereign wisdom, He knows that not all of the things we pray for will be for our good and for His glory. And so, sometimes, He says no. ⠀⠀⠀⠀ And that's okay. Actually, it's good. It might be hard. But we can trust that He knows what's best.

In John 6, Andrew comes to Jesus with some bread and fish. But he also comes with the assumption (v9) that they won't be enough to help feed the crowd. ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ From an earthly perspective, he's calculating correctly. ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ But he's forgetting that Jesus is there. ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ We tend to do the same thing. We think that what we can bring to Jesus isn't enough. Won't help. Can't be used. ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ But we need to remember who it is we're dealing with. And we need to trust that He can use it all for His glory.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." (John 15:1‭-‬2) ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ I've written about this passage before, but what always strikes me about it is that Jesus speaks of two realities: one is when branches do not bear fruit - God cuts away those branches. The other is when branches do bear fruit - God prunes those branches. ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ Either way, cutting is involved. ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ The reminder here is that no matter where we find ourselves, no matter what is going on in our lives, God's going to be cutting away at our hearts and our lives. Why? Because He wants us to bear fruit. Because He wants us to live lives that are wholly surrendered to Him. Because He loves us and knows that this cutting, ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ although painful, ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ is what's best for us.

I found myself feeling pretty complainy the other day. There were some circumstances that came up that were quite frustrating, and I felt like I had the right to complain. ⠀⠀⠀⠀ Then I read these words from Paul Tripp's book, "Awe"... and felt immediate conviction. ⠀⠀⠀⠀ I can't claim to trust in the sovereignty and omnipotence of God, and then complain when things don't go my way. If I truly trust that He is in control, then I must remember that the circumstances in which I find myself are intentional designs of His mercy and love. They are able to be used for my good and His glory (Romans 8:28). And yes, they may be challenging. ⠀⠀⠀⠀ But complaining ain't gonna do anything.