Good Morning!
Now that we are done with the series, I’m trying to figure out where to go next. Maybe it will be a topic from one of the four books that I am reading. All are quite interesting. I’ve started and finished a couple more this year already. Actually, that is quite impressive because I have started many, many books only to abandon most. I don’t know about you, but I think books could say just as much with half the space. I understand that publishers are at play here because they desire to have books an inch wide or more so people can read the title on the spine. I don’t know if that is true or not, but it would explain why most books have some chapters that seem like they were added on after the original book idea was formed.
Now, I realize I may have just stepped in a cow pie because my writings tend to be longer than most people care to read. In fact, I have had people suggest that I shorten these up considerably. I get that, except then I am writing for mass approval. I don’t think this is my purpose. When I write, everything flows until it shuts off. I don’t want this to sound like something it’s not, but I consider writing a gift that works best when I just let it flow. I never know who will be impacted by what I write. Sometimes I am quite surprised when someone I haven’t heard from in a long time tells me that a particular post meant a great deal to them. Right place, right time. So, I think I will keep on doing what I’m doing. I’m writing for the Lord, not for a publisher.
With that in mind, I write about topics that I know some people disagree with. In fact, some have been quite offended. My purpose is not to intentionally tick someone off. I don’t like arguing. I write about topics that I have studied, and I hope that you will benefit from that. Take the whole topic of predestination for example. I write about that a lot, but most people reject the idea flat out. Nobody has all the answers, and everybody is wrong from time to time. I welcome challenges provided the challenger has thought out what I have presented. For example, I have studied both sides of the “once saved, always saved” debate. I am convinced that one cannot throw way his/her salvation. Not everybody agrees with that. I don’t want to present myself as a know-it-all; however, I have come to see great benefit to this doctrine. My hope is to share what I have found with everyone. Let’s face it, I was like most in that I once thought I was the one who chose God. I have since changed my mind. None of us have all the answers, but that doesn’t mean truth is elusive.
Anyway, back to the books I’m reading. I’m starting to get overwhelmed in needing to do this to be a good Christian, or that I need to do that thing instead. Then I think that no, that’s not right, I need to do BOTH! Ugh! So, this morning, I am content that God’s work is just the opposite of what humans think.
John 6:28-29 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
It’s that simple. Yes, we need to pray and read our bibles. Yes, we need to study and meet with one another. Yes, we must do this and that. However, we can get lost in all this and lose all our joy in the process. We aren’t designed by God to be super-human. We have limits to our capacity. We run optimally at a level considerably less than capacity. We also need routine maintenance. We need down time. We need rest. That’s how God has designed us. We all understand that babies need naps. Why is rest such a hard concept for adults?
Yes, I believe in Jesus. Today, I will be like Mary and choose the good portion (Luke 10:38-42).
Father, thank you for time of rest. Amen.
Copyright © 2019 Scott Powers