Wretched Worms

Worms. When I think of worms I think of fishing. I think of hooking a worm several times and then sending that insignificant little critter to the depths to hopefully entice a fish to end up on my dinner plate. Worms are easy to find if you know where to look and if you don't well then they are relatively cheap to purchase at the nearest bait shop or convenience store. Worms are the old stand-by. If nothing else works lob a worm out there and chances are you will catch something. Worms are expendable. I don't know of many folks who would swerve their car to miss hitting a worm, or feel to badly about loosing a couple while fishing, maybe even end up staying a little to long in moms fridge. To our human perspective worms are just not that important in the scheme of things.


Thankfully our God's perspective is a little different! In Isaiah 41:14, ''Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.'' Not only does God refer to Jacob as a worm but He also declares that He is one who helps Israel, and He is their Redeemer!


The next time I am fishing I will be sure to look at that worm and think of myself, wretched worm that I am. I may still think that worm on my hook is not very significant but I will praise God that he sent his son to die for this insignificant worm that is me.

Tozer

This quote is taken from ''The Pursuit of God''. He is speaking of men who seem to love God more then most, men who God uses mightily.

They were prophets, not scribes, for the scribe tells us what he has read, and the prophet tells what he has seen. The description is not an imaginary one. Between the scribe who has read and the prophet who has seen there is a difference as wide as the sea. We are overrun today by orthodox scribes, but the prophets, where are they? The hard voice of the scribe sounds over evangelicalism, but the Church waits for the tender voice of the saint who has penetrated the veil and has gazed with inward eye upon the wonder that is God.

I love to read. As I read I need to be careful that this knowledge that I am gaining is not empty but full of the wonder of God. I can share with you what I have read, but without conviction, my words are empty like that of the scribes. I pray that as I grow as a Christian I will see God as he is, not just read. I thank God for this gentle reminder this morning!

Hebrews 4:14-16

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

What a mystery! What a blessing! What a promise! What a mighty God we serve!

Scripture vs. Scripture

It has been very interesting for me as of late to watch those around me interpret, speak, and sometimes teach what they believe scripture has to say. There are so many folks from so many different backgrounds thinking and teaching so many different things. The problem here is that it does not matter what we think scripture says or feel what scripture says, what matters is what scripture is actually saying. There is after all only one truth. The easiest way for me to think about and relay this difficult situation is to talk about salvation and the different ways it is interpreted through scripture. For example, is it ''once saved always saved'' or ''perseverance of the saints''? Can we loose our salvation? Are we chosen for salvation or do we choose it on your own? On what do we base these decisions? Is this what we have always believed because this is what we have always been taught? Do we use just one scripture to show our position, or many different verses, or do we base our decision on these issues on the whole of scripture systematically?

We all bring ''baggage'' to the table with us when it comes to looking at scripture and trying to decipher what God is trying to tell us. We all have very different experiences that tend to tint how we view the truths of scripture. For example: Do you us feelings when reading scripture? Perhaps it is just what you have always believed or have been taught by your parents or schooling? I went to bible school and at the time I believed everything I was taught. A bible school could not be wrong. Could they? Maybe it is tradition, or a particular denomination that we unpack scripture with. Our goal when it comes to bible study should be to bring as few of these pieces of ''luggage'' with us as possible. We need to pray that God will enable us to read his word with a clear mind, that his Spirit will enable us to understand his Word. Remember, there is only one truth! I do believe we are, by Gods grace, able to see and know many truths in scripture. It is important though to interpret scripture with scripture and not with the ''baggage'' we carry. My point here is that we need to know Gods word. Know what it says, know what it means before we open our mouths! Be faithful to the teachings of scripture, not to what we feel, or have been taught. Make it your own and be able to back it up with truth.

Lamenting Lip Service

If you have been following my blog at all as of late you know that I have been reading books such as Jonny Mac's ''The Jesus you Can't Ignore'' or ''Truth War'' and I just started Matthew Meads ''The Almost Christian Discovered''. Very convicting books that are often times not very comfortable to read but at the same time outstanding because of growth through the Refiners fire. One of the hardest truths I have been forced to come face to face with through all of this is that I am a very stubborn sinner. Probably obvious to those of you who are close to me! I have been spending time as of late in Isaiah and read a couple of verses this morning that really hit the nail on the head.

Isaiah 29:13-14a-
And the Lord said:
because this people draw near with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
while their hearts are far away from me
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.
therefore, behold, I will again
do wonderful things with these people,
with wonder upon wonder...

Too often I am guilty of just giving the Lord lip service. Too often I fear God because that is what I am supposed to do. Last night I had a bit of an awakening through something wonderful that Lord has done and is doing. I had a conversation of sorts with my x wife and I told her that I wanted to be a family again. This is something that Ty and I have been praying about for a long time. I know that others have too and I thank God for your prayers. While she didn't say, ''Yeah! Lets do it!'' She was not opposed to the idea and said that she sometimes feels the same way. She said she is not ready for it now but is open to the possibility of getting together and talking about it sometime in the future. I encouraged her to pray about it and she promised me that she would. I believe that the Lord is working in both of our lives and I know that He will continue to do so. We may never be a family again and I am OK with that. I can't help but think that someday we will though. I praise God for doing a wonderful thing in my life last night in spite of the lip service I sometimes offer to Him. I am humbled before my great and sovereign God. Soften this heart of mine so I can be more usefull to you.