God as you least Expect Him
Yesterday Pastor Andrew spoke on one of the more familiar passages to many Christians, 2 Tim. 3:16. I will follow my usual format and comment on that tomorrow, but today my thoughts led me to something different…
If we really want God we will not care whether He comes to us in a mighty rushing wind or in a still, small voice. We will not demand He comes with majestic glory, nor mind if He comes by speaking through an ass… or even an enemy! Do you desire God to come to you enough that you would receive Him in a form you despise today?
“If we continually try to bring back those exceptional moments of inspiration, it is a sign that it is not God we want. We are becoming obsessed with the moments when God did come and speak with us, and we are insisting that He do it again. But what God wants us to do is to “walk by faith.” How many of us have set ourselves aside as if to say, “I cannot do anything else until God appears to me”? He will never do it. We will have to get up on our own, without any inspiration and without any sudden touch from God. Then comes our surprise and we find ourselves exclaiming, “Why, He was there all the time, and I never knew it!” Never live for those exceptional moments— they are surprises. God will give us His touches of inspiration only when He sees that we are not in danger of being led away by them. We must never consider our moments of inspiration as the standard way of life— our work is our standard.” – Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, May 1 entry.
God, coming to us in a way we least expect, seems often to be His way: a burning bush, a smoky cloud, a tower of fire, a harlot, a 7-day march, a terrified Abiezrite, a blinding light, a dream in the night, a helpless baby.
No parent will give their child the car keys before the child has been proven to drive responsibly. To do so could very well result in destruction of the child. Until then, the child must simply learn to walk. Similarly, Chalmers notes, “God will give us His touches of inspiration only when He sees that we are not in danger of being led away by them.” Until then, we must simply learn to walk. Walking is the norm. Driving is privilege. It will do a child no good to stand and shout tantrums demanding a car! Doing so only further demonstrates the child’s present immaturity.
If a Christian truly wants to travel with Christ he will not care about their mode of transportation. To our delight, when we content ourselves with this, we find He is ever with us, even while trudging along on stony paths.
More tomorrow…
To hear Pastor Andrew’s Sunday message, go to the Facebook page of Lincoln Baptist Church, or link to the livestream from the church website.
thebrokenrunner 