In this life we walk through valleys and mountain peaks. It’s the nature of the Believer’s walk. As I look back at this past year, I wonder at myself. Why couldn’t I remember that God loves me? Why did I submit to the Enemy’s lies so easily? It took awhile, but I eventually caved in.
God has been so good to me. How is it that I forget so quickly? In the midst of a storm, I can’t see clearly. God even addresses this. He has sent me encouragement over and over.
When God said, “I will never leave you or forsake you,” that’s a promise. God keeps His promises. My comfort comes from reading scripture and seeing the men and women God used who were completely flawed. That’s the beauty of scripture. The Bible doesn’t shy away from the ugly truth and flaws of it’s people.
I used to think I didn’t really understand Jonah. I used to blame him in my head that he wasn’t a nice guy, sitting there on a hill, waiting for God to destroy Ninevah. It wasn’t until I was an adult, when I heard that Jonah wrote the book of Jonah. Jonah wrote all the horrible stuff about himself. He put it all out there, without trying to clean it up and make himself look good. It was warts and all that he showed himself.
When I think of that, it warms my heart. Jonah, was completely submitted to God that he willingly wrote his story that showed what a flawed character he is. The fact that Jonah wrote about himself shows his deep commitment and submission to God. He didn’t hold anything back.
And every person we read about is flawed. We learn from their mistakes. So when I look back at myself this past year, I am comforted knowing greater men and women from scripture have screwed up just as much. Peter denied Jesus three times. Jonah tried to run from God and didn’t want a people to turn to God. David committed murder and adultery.
God doesn’t expect perfection from us. He is perfection. That is what I have to remember. God is perfection. We sang a song in church today about who is worthy to open the scroll? It’s a reference to the verse in Revelation when all of heaven waits to see who can open the scroll. Then the Lion of Judah – Jesus Christ, can open the scroll. He was perfection, yet He was crucified on the cross. He who knew no sin paid the price for our sins on the cross! What a Savior! So when my faith is wobbly, God is not up in heaven, slapping His hand to His forehead at every mistake I do. He already knows how flawed I am and He loves me anyway.
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