Thursday, September 16, 2010
Can you say... GEEK
This week was my first week of classes at MacDiv. I find it hard to believe that I am in Seminary. I just sit in class and eat up all the words of the professors like a starved child. I remember when I was a kid and my friend Jenn used to practicing preaching on the phone to me. She was the one who was going to be the preacher (and hopefully she keeps that up) and I wanted to be the missionary -- I still do. Now we both find ourselves in Seminary (though she may be finished by now and I am just beginning). It's just crazy to look back and see how God has been leading us and I wonder where He will take us in the future. All this week I kept thinking, "wow, I am so privileged to be here" and "why me?" Why am I in seminary? I guess I won't know until later but I plan on enjoying the journey.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Freedom
I was sitting outside today reading my Bible. I was reading Galatians which is all about the law and faith. It talks about how we can get so caught up attempting to justify ourselves by trying to live up to God's law instead of allow God to justify us through our faith in Him.
As soon as I finished reading the last chapter, I heard a scratching noise. I went to check it out and I discovered a chipmunk was caught in a trap. He was running back and forth in the cage trying to escape. When I lifted up the trap door to release him he just stood there instead of running to freedom.
I realized that often we are like that chipmunk. We try and try to work hard and do good to please God. Even things that are good, such as spending time reading the Bible, can become a trap to us as they become something we have to do to please God instead of doing it because we want to build a relationship with Him. We become trapped by our legalism. Yet, Jesus came to set us free. He is standing at the trap door holding it open for us to walk out. Yet we get so caught up in our trapped mentality that we don't accept the freedom He offers.
Thank God for the grace and freedom He gives to us!
(As for the chipmunk...he eventually gained the courage to walk out of the trap.)
As soon as I finished reading the last chapter, I heard a scratching noise. I went to check it out and I discovered a chipmunk was caught in a trap. He was running back and forth in the cage trying to escape. When I lifted up the trap door to release him he just stood there instead of running to freedom.
I realized that often we are like that chipmunk. We try and try to work hard and do good to please God. Even things that are good, such as spending time reading the Bible, can become a trap to us as they become something we have to do to please God instead of doing it because we want to build a relationship with Him. We become trapped by our legalism. Yet, Jesus came to set us free. He is standing at the trap door holding it open for us to walk out. Yet we get so caught up in our trapped mentality that we don't accept the freedom He offers.
Thank God for the grace and freedom He gives to us!
(As for the chipmunk...he eventually gained the courage to walk out of the trap.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)