I must admit, I haven't been updating my journal. I've been committed to the Daily Audio Bible podcast for the last year and a half, which walks through the Bible every year, as well as the WSFC online reading plan which does the same thing. However, they aren't exactly the same readings each day, so I'm covering multiple books, etc. Add to this a third reading plan for the men's group and I'm overwhelmed. The net result? I've not been keeping up with the small group readings like I should be. I could have carved out the time if I'd truly wanted, but I simply chose not to. (The whole I want to, but don't do it thing again)
At least I'm reading the Word. And, not just reading it, but trying to chew on it, savor it and find practical application for it in my life. The whole point of reading the Bible is kind of silly if you approach it as a novel. True, there are exciting stories within, but it's supposed to be a book of examples that you can use as a manual for your daily life. You don't just read the Bible and put it down. You read it, meditate on it, talk about it, share it with others and LIVE it.
James 1:23-25 (New International Version)
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
So, I was unprepared for the small group tonight. I just knew that I was going to be the only guy there that hadn't done a shred of reading. I was wrong. Although there were men whom were prepared, there were just as many of us whom were unprepared. Yet, in spite of this, we managed to open our Bibles and hearts and cultivate some great fellowship.
There were a couple of themes I took away from tonight, based on the conversations which took place. The first being that God is a really BIG God. He's so big and is capable of so much, that we truly can't comprehend it with our finite thinking. We tend to place God into a box of ideals. Ours. The reality is that God is sovereign and can do what he wants, whenever he pleases. The best thing to do is to stop trying to plot out where God will next appear and look at where he's already currently at work and get behind it.
The second theme was to "ask". If we are operating within his will and ask him for anything, believing we'll receive it, it's ours.
John 14:13-14 (New King James Version)
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask[a] anything in My name, I will do it.
Matthew 7:7 (New International Version)
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
To seemingly reinforce the idea of asking God for things, we learn that sometimes we don't receive what we're truly in need of, because we haven't asked for it. In fact, not communicating with our Lord is a very bad thing!
James 4:2 (English Standard Version)
You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
I take all of this to mean that God is after deep fellowship with us. He's the bridegroom and we're the bride. He wants to take care of us, but we need to have a real relationship with Him. That means communication. Men, would you want to help your wives, if they never spoke to you, never came to you for help or never said "thank you"?
The more we walk with Jesus, the more we begin to change internally and reflect his nature. The more this occurs, the more our thoughts (and requests) align with His will for us. We'll find that we're not asking for a million dollars and a red Ferrari (although that would be very, very cool). These requests are immature and are not likely a part of His will for us. In some ways, granting these requests could actually damage us; allowing us to give way to greed or other idols.
Instead, walking with Jesus will ensure we'll be asking for the things in prayer that we should be asking for; wisdom, the health of our families, resources to help people in need, to spread the Word of God, etc.
Good Night,
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