Falling into the hands of mercy

David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands." (2 Samuel 24:14)

Initially I read this verse very quickly and almost skipped over the essential meaning, but am glad I lingered a little longer. What do you notice when you read it through a few times?

David understands something very profound - that God is way more merciful than many human beings are! I saddened by the judgement that many Christians make of each other, sometimes in very painful ways, yet we easily forget how much mercy we have all received from God. 

I realise I am still a work in progress, but I would rather be judged for being too merciful, than for being too bigoted. Thankfully God will decide our fate and not those who oppose us. 

What do you think?

Living in Grace

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Self awareness

The trouble with freedom of speech as that we can lose the sensitivity towards others and become a little preoccupied with ourselves. Proverbs reminds us to become more self-aware, as many of our troubles come from thinking we are better than we truly are. In today's reading, I was drawn to this verse:

"Can any of us really say, “My thoughts are pure, and my sins are gone”? (Proverbs 20:9)

It reminds me of the words of Paul, who argued that 'All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) When I comprehend that I am need of a Saviour, then I become more humble and understanding of those struggle with their personal sin.

Here is another verse from Proverbs 20 that runs along the same line of thinking: "Our inner thoughts are a lamp from the Lord, and they search our hearts" (v.27)

How self-aware are we?

"Self-awareness is a trait - or maybe 'practice' is the more accurate way to put it - that everyone can always improve at. It is part emotional intelligence, part perceptiveness, part critical thinking. It means knowing your weaknesses, of course, but it also means knowing your strengths and what motivates you." - Neil Blumenthal

Self awareness is our capacity to stand apart from ourselves and examine our thinking, our motives, our history, our scripts, our actions, and our habits and tendencies." - Stephen Covey

Living in Grace
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Wasting wisdom

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Winston Churchill

Have you ever offered someone advice and they have completely ignored your suggestions? Or have you ever had a person mock your advice? Well, chances are that even if this hasn't happened to your face, that it has happened behind your back. And the feeling I get, when this happens, is "why did I even bother? Why did I waste my advice on someone who was too stubborn to listen?"

Clearly, Solomon felt the same at some point in time, because he wrote these words:

"Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you.
But correct the wise, and they will love you.
Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.
If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.
If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer." - Proverbs 9:7-12

I sometimes get the feeling that all the 'advice' we have been getting on Covid-19 is almost overwhelming and some people are choosing to ignore very good advice. I understand that information overload is a very real danger, but we need to discern which advice is best for us and our families. 

“Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, others over self.” Dean Jackson

Living in Grace

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Living in the same house

During these days of Lockdown most of us are learning how to live in the same space with our family (or community) without getting on each others nerves. There are of course some days when we all end up feeling that the 'living space' is a little cramped, don't you agree? However, we know that staying in the same house is good for us and helps flatten the curve.

So, why am I sharing this with you? Well, as I was reading through Proverbs 8, I came to verse 12, where it mentions that 'wisdom' and 'judgement' live together and it is a good partnership. Have a read of these verses and see what benefit there is from bringing out the best in each other.

^"Wisdom and good judgment live together, for wisdom knows where to discover knowledge and understanding. If anyone respects and fears God, he will hate evil. For wisdom hates pride, arrogance, corruption, and deceit of every kind. “I, Wisdom, give good advice and common sense. Because of my strength, kings reign in power, and rulers make just laws. I love all who love me. Those who search for me shall surely find me. Unending riches, honor, justice, and righteousness are mine to distribute. My gifts are better than the purest gold or sterling silver!" - Proverbs 8:12-19 (Living Bible)

Euripides - "Whosoever neglects learning in his youth, loses the past and is dead for the future."

Living in Grace
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Seven

Have you noticed any planks in your eyes lately? Well, if not planks, then how about some small blocks of wood? Or a few tiny pieces of off-cuts from your garage floor? Any Sawdust?

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." - Matthew 7:3-5

Lent teaches us to look inward at our personal journey with Jesus and to ask ourselves the honest (but hard) questions. 

Do I notice the sin in the lives of others very quickly and then leniently overlook my own sins?
What could "the plank" represent in my own life?
Am I fairly judging those around me?

“Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Living in Grace
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Gulp - where is the Good News in that!

 

I can't lie to you; I was a little depressed after reading Ezekiel chapter 5. I was wondering how I would find any good news in the midst of these verses - they all seemed so harsh and judgemental. Anyway, after doing a little back round reading, I zoomed in on verse 3 and realised there was something hopeful in this short verse.

However, let me not get ahead of myself. In this chapter Ezekiel is given an instruction by the Lord to divide his hair into 3 parts (see below). Using an accurate measure he is to place a third of his hair in various places, revealing God's precise judgement in each place.

"Son of dust, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber’s razor to shave your head and beard; use balances to weigh the hair into three equal parts. ² Place a third of it at the centre of your map of Jerusalem. After your siege, burn it there. Scatter another third across your map and slash at it with a knife. Scatter the last third to the wind, for I will chase my people with the sword. 

However, Ezekiel is given another message as part of this instruction:
³ Keep just a bit of the hair and tie it up in your robe;

It may make no sense to us living in the 21st Century, but this is were the Good News is found. By placing a small bit of hair into his robe, Ezekiel is showing how God will "protect" and "keep" His remnant safe during the days of judgement. So God wants to save those who have remained loyal to him and who have not turned away from his laws. 

As one Bible commentator remarks: “The few hairs which he was to take in his skirts, was intended to represent those few Jews that should be left in the land under Gedaliah, after the taking of the city."

Challenge: How do we remain loyal to Christ even when others are falling by the wayside? Can we stay committed to Jesus even when the going gets tough?

Have a blessed week.
Living in Grace
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