This post is a partial fulfillment of my course work for Church History.
I have been studying Church history for the last several months. Not because I wanted to, or thought I would find it interesting but because it is a required course for my theology degree. That may not be the most enticing way to begin a blog post about Church history but it is honest, this post will likely feel equal parts a confessional and an academic lesson.
I love the Word of God! I have studied it faithfully for the better part of 20 years. It is the source of Truth in my life and should be the center of every professing Christian. Its all you need to know (right?). Over the years when I have had conversations with Christians that drop names like Martin Luther or John Calvin, I'd roll my eyes at their pretentious academics. It seemed to me that these Christian intellectual elitists were nothing more than condescending Pharisees, using their talent for names and dates to appear more Christian than us mere laity. God is in the Bible, not the history books.
(At this point I need to acknowledge that I'm grateful the LORD saw fit to correct my arrogant ignorance instead of smiting me as I well deserved!)
So it was begrudgingly at best that I signed up for a two part Church history class. The first class, Pentecost to the Reformation, I found fascinating but not exactly earth shattering. Understanding how the early Church spread throughout the known world, how the Church fathers both fought and worked together to protect and understand the Bible and the movement of the Holy Spirit bringing Truth to light just as Jesus has promised was amazing.
I ended up really enjoying the class so I was slightly less grumpy about taking the second class, From the Reformation Through the 20th Century. I figured it'd at least me interesting.
It turns out I was wrong, this class wasn't interesting, it was convicting, and encouraging and deeply personal. From the very first lesson I felt like the LORD was introducing me to people who challenged me to love Him more and follow Him more fearlessly.
Pretty much everyone has heard of Martin Luther, he's that guy that put the Catholic Church on blast. Of course but it was never his intention to begin the Protestant movement. He loved the Church and the people he served, but he loved the God of the Bible more.
William Wilberforce was a godly man in the British Parliament in the 19th century. He fought for human rights on the basis of Scripture (Mangalwadi 1999, 83). He was paramount in the abolition of slavery in England, and allowing missionaries to legally enter into India.
William Carey, who was already doing mission work in India and a friend of Wilberforce, spent decades shining a light on the dark superstitions of the Hindus in India. He mourned as women were burned alive on the funeral pyres of their husbands, and small children married off to grown men (1999, 22). Together Wilberforce and Carey believed and lived out faith that only God can change hearts and changed hearts change culture.
Peter Cartwright was an evangelist on the western frontier at the time of the Second Great Awakening in the United States. He "preached in homes, barns and taverns" in order to reach people and had a quick wit that drew people in (Smeeton. 2015, 200). He took the Word of God to the people no matter where they were.
Even Billy Graham, who I'd previously never given more than a head nod in acknowledgement to, turned out to be quite the pioneer. At a time when liberal and conservative Churches were busy fighting with each other about doctrine and culture, Graham came along preaching the inerrant Word of God as the bedrock of unity and meeting social needs. His meetings were ecumenical and always included racial diversity. He took advantage of the most current technologies of the day, publications, radio and television, and traveled all over the world sharing the Gospel of Christ (Smeeton 1999, 251).
The Church hasn't always gotten it right, and the lessons learned from those mistakes should give us courage to do better.
Martin Luther was excommunicated for standing up for Truth against an institution that claimed to be established on Truth but was instead steeped in tradition and selfish ambition. Yet his bravery and obedience to God provides fuel as Churches continue to be called out for sin either masquerading as tradition or being hidden and ignored because of selfish ambition.
Wilberforce and Carey faced opposition and ridicule. Their Bible based view of human dignity stood in the face of economic growth on the backs of poor and enslaved labor. Treating all people with dignity and respect because we are all image-bearers of our Creator, should be the rallying cry of all Christians everywhere. The Church may have failed to pick up the mantel of equality during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s but we in the Church today have a great and glorious opportunity to right that wrong and speak Truth and freedom to the oppressed.
In my day to day life I don't see the LORD asking me to start a revolution, become a political activist or a missionary. Odds are good that my name won't be remembered generations after I die. No one will ever use my name in a sentence along side Luther, Carey or Graham, but their names are now tucked away in my heart along side my other heroes, Abraham, Jeremiah, John and Paul. They challenge me to daily abide in Christ, to trust Him with the big picture of history and to be brave and obedient in the simple life He has called me to.
So I apologize to all the gracious intellectuals, who were just trying to share with me their excitement about God's story. To my best friend who is actually a professor of Church History and loves all this stuff, I'm sorry for making fun of you (not always to your face). To my professors for having been an unenthusiastic fool, and to every person I have ever had the pleasure of sharing Scripture with. The Bible is the bedrock, the Truth on which we stand, but it is powerful to know your history and to know that we are part of His story.
I am fool, saved by a gracious God.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Calling and Church History
This is a post that fulfills a requirement for a class I'm taking on the Early Church.
I generally don't like to teach topically. My happy (and safest) place is sticking tight to Scripture. It's just too easy to imply doctrine from piecing together a string of verses on a topic all the while pushing the boundaries of context.
Sometimes, however, seeing the bigger picture requires drawing from several sections of Scripture and in this case the history books. Since I am not attempting to discuss doctrine, but calling, I feel my shaky feet are on solid ground...we shall see though : )
I may not be able to speak for everyone, but I can certainly confess that my heart has always yearned for purpose. Not to be famous, rich or powerful (though I won't pretend I haven't imagined that life as well) but meaning, to have an impact in the lives of the people around me that leaves them (and myself) better somehow.
It has been hard for me over the years to reconcile my desire to have impact and purpose with always being new, or packing up (we move a lot). Don't get me wrong, I have had amazing opportunities to serve in churches. I've lead Bible study, started new ministries, written studies, and mentored, but my opportunities are always short lived. Its seems just as things get going, I'm moving and passing the baton to someone else. I struggle with finding footing and a desire to offer more than whatever quick, fleeting service I am able to offer. My heart still yearns, in fact lately its been aching...but isn't it in the yearning the God so often whispers.
I just got back from a mini vacation with my family. It was less then a 3 hour drive but my brother had given me a CD set (I know how old are we!) of Chuck Swindoll's Daniel. My daughter was busy reading and playing her tablet in the back seat so I started listening. Part way through the 3rd cd I heard something I hadn't remembered from all the times I've study Daniel before. In the famous dream of King Nebuchadnezzar's great statue, I'd never paid much mind to the Rock that demolishes the statue and creates a vast unshakable mountain in its place (Daniel 2). The emphasis always seems to be on the meaning of the statue and the prophecy but not this time. I don't honestly remember much of what Chuck said the rest of the cd, but the thing it seems I'd glossed over in that chapter suddenly became the Thing! The thing that made sense of my life, and tied everything I've learned about Church History to Scripture and to me!
Of course Jesus is the Rock, and the mountain? His immovable, eternal Kingdom! The Kingdom of God, the one that Jesus spoke so often about, will one day take the place of all the earthly kingdoms that have been and are yet to come! Yet Jesus talked about this Kingdom, His Kingdom, as already existing. Many of His parables were about what the Kingdom is like, or who the people were that were entering it. This future Kingdom of Daniel 2, this Eternal Mountain built on the Rock is here, now and the most amazing thing is that we, you and I, believers in Christ, are part of the building of it!
In Christ we not only have identity but we have purpose! We are the children of God, called to join in the labor of making disciples, spreading the Word, building the Kingdom. It has been over 2000 years since Jesus told Peter that He would build the Church and that is our lineage. You and I will never write Cannon, but we can be counted among the great builders of the Church.
Polycarp is a famous martyr from the 2nd century, but it was his encouragement of others who were persecuted for their faith that made him a great leader in the Kingdom. Do you encourage other in their faith? You're a Kingdom builder.
Origen was passionate about studying the Word of God and teaching others. Do you share God's Word with people? You are a Kingdom builder!
Eusebius was a historian in the early 4th century. Much of what we know about the early Church is from his writings. Do you want others to know what God is doing in your Church? Kingdom builder!
The Benedictine Monks set up monasteries all over medieval Europe in order to bring the Gospel to un-reached people.Do you have a heart to reach the lost? I think you get the picture :)
You don't have to be a martyr, a monk or in ministry full time. You simply use the gifts and passions that God has given you in a way that further His Kingdom (not yours). When we look for our eternal purpose, the way we get to contribute to God's Kingdom, we find the significance, that lasting contribution that makes others (and ourselves) better.
I am so grateful for God's eternal view, and overwhelmed that He lets me work to build His Kingdom (and can use my crazy lifestyle). Over the last 20ish years, from a world view, I have not accomplished much, I am pretty ordinary, but is God's eternity, I am a Kingdom Builder! Thanks to a little nudge by the Spirit, a Chuck Swindoll cd on Daniel and a class on Church History, I am confident of my purpose and sure of my call.
How awesome that we can be counted among the great Church builders, Polycarp, Ireneaus, Augustine, YOU and me!
I generally don't like to teach topically. My happy (and safest) place is sticking tight to Scripture. It's just too easy to imply doctrine from piecing together a string of verses on a topic all the while pushing the boundaries of context.
Sometimes, however, seeing the bigger picture requires drawing from several sections of Scripture and in this case the history books. Since I am not attempting to discuss doctrine, but calling, I feel my shaky feet are on solid ground...we shall see though : )
I may not be able to speak for everyone, but I can certainly confess that my heart has always yearned for purpose. Not to be famous, rich or powerful (though I won't pretend I haven't imagined that life as well) but meaning, to have an impact in the lives of the people around me that leaves them (and myself) better somehow.
It has been hard for me over the years to reconcile my desire to have impact and purpose with always being new, or packing up (we move a lot). Don't get me wrong, I have had amazing opportunities to serve in churches. I've lead Bible study, started new ministries, written studies, and mentored, but my opportunities are always short lived. Its seems just as things get going, I'm moving and passing the baton to someone else. I struggle with finding footing and a desire to offer more than whatever quick, fleeting service I am able to offer. My heart still yearns, in fact lately its been aching...but isn't it in the yearning the God so often whispers.
I just got back from a mini vacation with my family. It was less then a 3 hour drive but my brother had given me a CD set (I know how old are we!) of Chuck Swindoll's Daniel. My daughter was busy reading and playing her tablet in the back seat so I started listening. Part way through the 3rd cd I heard something I hadn't remembered from all the times I've study Daniel before. In the famous dream of King Nebuchadnezzar's great statue, I'd never paid much mind to the Rock that demolishes the statue and creates a vast unshakable mountain in its place (Daniel 2). The emphasis always seems to be on the meaning of the statue and the prophecy but not this time. I don't honestly remember much of what Chuck said the rest of the cd, but the thing it seems I'd glossed over in that chapter suddenly became the Thing! The thing that made sense of my life, and tied everything I've learned about Church History to Scripture and to me!
Of course Jesus is the Rock, and the mountain? His immovable, eternal Kingdom! The Kingdom of God, the one that Jesus spoke so often about, will one day take the place of all the earthly kingdoms that have been and are yet to come! Yet Jesus talked about this Kingdom, His Kingdom, as already existing. Many of His parables were about what the Kingdom is like, or who the people were that were entering it. This future Kingdom of Daniel 2, this Eternal Mountain built on the Rock is here, now and the most amazing thing is that we, you and I, believers in Christ, are part of the building of it!
In Christ we not only have identity but we have purpose! We are the children of God, called to join in the labor of making disciples, spreading the Word, building the Kingdom. It has been over 2000 years since Jesus told Peter that He would build the Church and that is our lineage. You and I will never write Cannon, but we can be counted among the great builders of the Church.
Polycarp is a famous martyr from the 2nd century, but it was his encouragement of others who were persecuted for their faith that made him a great leader in the Kingdom. Do you encourage other in their faith? You're a Kingdom builder.
Origen was passionate about studying the Word of God and teaching others. Do you share God's Word with people? You are a Kingdom builder!
Eusebius was a historian in the early 4th century. Much of what we know about the early Church is from his writings. Do you want others to know what God is doing in your Church? Kingdom builder!
The Benedictine Monks set up monasteries all over medieval Europe in order to bring the Gospel to un-reached people.Do you have a heart to reach the lost? I think you get the picture :)
You don't have to be a martyr, a monk or in ministry full time. You simply use the gifts and passions that God has given you in a way that further His Kingdom (not yours). When we look for our eternal purpose, the way we get to contribute to God's Kingdom, we find the significance, that lasting contribution that makes others (and ourselves) better.
I am so grateful for God's eternal view, and overwhelmed that He lets me work to build His Kingdom (and can use my crazy lifestyle). Over the last 20ish years, from a world view, I have not accomplished much, I am pretty ordinary, but is God's eternity, I am a Kingdom Builder! Thanks to a little nudge by the Spirit, a Chuck Swindoll cd on Daniel and a class on Church History, I am confident of my purpose and sure of my call.
How awesome that we can be counted among the great Church builders, Polycarp, Ireneaus, Augustine, YOU and me!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Giving God a Helping Hand: Day 3
Have you ever started out in one direction only to find out that where you were supposed to go was the opposite way?
I had every intention of talking about consequences today. We are after all still living with the consequences of the birth of Ishmael. God, however had a totally different direction for me. One I was neither prepared for, nor interested in, but if my hearts desire is to be obedient to the Lover of my soul then I must follow Him where ever He leads me.
In my research for Genesis 16, God brought me to Galatians 4:21-31.
Paul was writing to a Church that like most of the that time (and many still today) were struggling with legalism. A group called the Judaizers were claiming that in order for the Gentiles to truly be saved they had to practice the Law. Essentially to become Jewish. Paul, however stands firm against this group and really all people who would force laws onto those who Christ had made free.
"It is for freedom that Christ had set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
In chapter 4 Paul draws an interesting parallel between slavery and freedom and Hagar and Sarah.
"For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise." Galatians 5:22 & 23
Ishmael was the result of human effort. Abram and Sarai couldn't understand how God was going to give them a child and (most likely) in their most sincere and thoughtful consideration having a child through Hagar made sense. They were not willfully disobeying God, they simply thought they had the solution.
Any efforts we make apart from God is absolutely sin, however for many of us, we actually have good intentions, and are simply not waiting on God to show us His way. Many of us have created our own Ishmaels out of the best of intentions.
This is what God called me out on.
In the spring when I started this blog, I knew 100% that it was God's plan. He had been building it in my heart for years but it wasn't until spring that He had all the pieces fit and I stepped out in obedience. I loved it. From the first lesson to the last one I wrote in June before stopping to move, I enjoyed every moment of research, every word He led me to, even the days when the writing part didn't come easy I still loved it. God made it life giving, and I dove head first into it.
It didn't take me long to realize that my idea that I could maintain this blog while traveling or even once my daughter arrived was a bit of a fantasy though. I hadn't however occurred to me that I would just have to stop. So when the move came I had every intention of starting back up as soon as I was settled in my new home.
It had taken longer then I wanted it to, but 3 weeks ago I finally started posting again, but I knew instantly something was different. I love God's Word! I could spend hours or days even studying Scripture, it never gets boring or mundane for me. Yet as I started working on these last few lessons, my heart has been far from it. It has felt burdensome and I have been frustrated with the whole process. Even when I would pray for the words, the direction help of any sort, there was a hollowness. It took this lesson for me to realize that I this time, I have stepped out into this blog alone. This is not where God would have me right now.
I will freely admit that I'm disappointed. I have loved writing the lessons and I have loved teaching God's Word for over 10 years. But I am entering a season in my life where I need to step back, for now, from public ministries and focus on my own home.
I had hoped that I would make it to a somewhat reasonable stopping place but God has said no. Thankfully I trust that if you have been following this then your heart is to follow God and He will lead you to greener pastures and bless you richly for seeking His word.
I don't understand why God would have me start this blog only to end so soon, I am a bit confused as to His reasoning but I have no doubt about His will.
Maybe someday, possibly even sooner then I think, He will bring me back to this blog. Maybe He will transform it into something completely different. What I do know is that it has been a great privilege to teach His word, but obeying God is His highest will for me.
"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17
"If you love me, you will obey what I command." John 14:15
I had every intention of talking about consequences today. We are after all still living with the consequences of the birth of Ishmael. God, however had a totally different direction for me. One I was neither prepared for, nor interested in, but if my hearts desire is to be obedient to the Lover of my soul then I must follow Him where ever He leads me.
In my research for Genesis 16, God brought me to Galatians 4:21-31.
Paul was writing to a Church that like most of the that time (and many still today) were struggling with legalism. A group called the Judaizers were claiming that in order for the Gentiles to truly be saved they had to practice the Law. Essentially to become Jewish. Paul, however stands firm against this group and really all people who would force laws onto those who Christ had made free.
"It is for freedom that Christ had set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
In chapter 4 Paul draws an interesting parallel between slavery and freedom and Hagar and Sarah.
"For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise." Galatians 5:22 & 23
Ishmael was the result of human effort. Abram and Sarai couldn't understand how God was going to give them a child and (most likely) in their most sincere and thoughtful consideration having a child through Hagar made sense. They were not willfully disobeying God, they simply thought they had the solution.
Any efforts we make apart from God is absolutely sin, however for many of us, we actually have good intentions, and are simply not waiting on God to show us His way. Many of us have created our own Ishmaels out of the best of intentions.
This is what God called me out on.
In the spring when I started this blog, I knew 100% that it was God's plan. He had been building it in my heart for years but it wasn't until spring that He had all the pieces fit and I stepped out in obedience. I loved it. From the first lesson to the last one I wrote in June before stopping to move, I enjoyed every moment of research, every word He led me to, even the days when the writing part didn't come easy I still loved it. God made it life giving, and I dove head first into it.
It didn't take me long to realize that my idea that I could maintain this blog while traveling or even once my daughter arrived was a bit of a fantasy though. I hadn't however occurred to me that I would just have to stop. So when the move came I had every intention of starting back up as soon as I was settled in my new home.
It had taken longer then I wanted it to, but 3 weeks ago I finally started posting again, but I knew instantly something was different. I love God's Word! I could spend hours or days even studying Scripture, it never gets boring or mundane for me. Yet as I started working on these last few lessons, my heart has been far from it. It has felt burdensome and I have been frustrated with the whole process. Even when I would pray for the words, the direction help of any sort, there was a hollowness. It took this lesson for me to realize that I this time, I have stepped out into this blog alone. This is not where God would have me right now.
I will freely admit that I'm disappointed. I have loved writing the lessons and I have loved teaching God's Word for over 10 years. But I am entering a season in my life where I need to step back, for now, from public ministries and focus on my own home.
I had hoped that I would make it to a somewhat reasonable stopping place but God has said no. Thankfully I trust that if you have been following this then your heart is to follow God and He will lead you to greener pastures and bless you richly for seeking His word.
I don't understand why God would have me start this blog only to end so soon, I am a bit confused as to His reasoning but I have no doubt about His will.
Maybe someday, possibly even sooner then I think, He will bring me back to this blog. Maybe He will transform it into something completely different. What I do know is that it has been a great privilege to teach His word, but obeying God is His highest will for me.
"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17
"If you love me, you will obey what I command." John 14:15
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Giving God a helping hand: Day 2
Depending on what day it is, one of my most favorite names for God is El Roi, The God who Sees.
"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13
Our God sees everything!
Like I said it depends on the day whether I love that about Him or not. When I'm having a bad day, I'm mean to my husband, or say something rude to the car that just cut me off, I really like to pretend that God might have missed seeing that ugly moment. But, then there are the times that my heart is aching, I feel lonely, ugly, invisible or down right depressed, when I am hiding from the world, I am so thankful that God still sees me.
He doesn't just see us He sees us. He sees right through us. He knows our thoughts and understands our emotions better then we know our own. He sees us and loves us personally, individually, intimately.
When I was little I loved the story of Zacchaeus. He was a little man, and very unpopular because he had grown wealthy collecting taxes for Rome. All he wanted to do was see Jesus, but as Jesus passed by poor Zacchaeus was too short to see, so he climbed up in a tree to catch a glimpse. That day, lost amongst a huge crowd, struggling to see Jesus, Zacchaeus didn't just see Him, He saw Zacchaeus! Jesus the Savior, saw poor Zacchaeus up in that tree and He knew that what that sad, lost little man needed, to be seen.
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10
Genesis 16 is absolutely about taking matters into our own hands, about consequences and miss-steps of faith, but it is also about a God who sees, and loves, and cares for the lost and lonely.
For some reason it is easy to skip over Hagar in this story. Even though she has a major role, since the narrative as a whole is about Abram, she becomes a minor character, a means to teaching Abram a valuable lesson. Yet that is not how God saw her. In fact God was very careful to show that though the story isn't really about her, she is very important to Him.
After running away because Sarai mistreated her, lost in the desert, alone, pregnant and likely scared, Hagar found out that she too was significant.
"The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur." Genesis 16:8
I have to stop here, "The angel of the LORD found her..." He was looking for her! God seeks us when we are lost! How awesome is that.
"And he said, 'Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?' 'I am running away from my mistress Sarai,' she answered. Then the angel of the LORD told her, 'Go back to your mistress and submit to her.' The angel added, 'I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.' The angel of the LORD also said to her; 'You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of you misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and every one's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.' She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: 'You are the God who sees me,' for she said, 'I have now seen the One who sees me,' Genesis 16:7-13
Hagar wasn't just some slave girl to be used and mistreated, she was loved by the LORD. Though her story was part of a much bigger picture, God still had a purpose just for her. When she was lost and alone, God came and spoke words of comfort (granted some of the words might not have been all that comforting but we'll get to that tomorrow). He saw her misery and reached out to her.
That's who our God is. He's the God who sees our hidden pains. Who hears our silent cries. Hagar might have been a minor character in Abram's story but she was the lead in her own. Just because we don't know that much about her doesn't mean she was any less important to God.
You and I might feel like a minor characters in someone else's story, living our lives in the shadow of our parents, our spouse, our siblings or boss, but God sees each of us as a main character. He sees YOU!
"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13
Our God sees everything!
Like I said it depends on the day whether I love that about Him or not. When I'm having a bad day, I'm mean to my husband, or say something rude to the car that just cut me off, I really like to pretend that God might have missed seeing that ugly moment. But, then there are the times that my heart is aching, I feel lonely, ugly, invisible or down right depressed, when I am hiding from the world, I am so thankful that God still sees me.
He doesn't just see us He sees us. He sees right through us. He knows our thoughts and understands our emotions better then we know our own. He sees us and loves us personally, individually, intimately.
When I was little I loved the story of Zacchaeus. He was a little man, and very unpopular because he had grown wealthy collecting taxes for Rome. All he wanted to do was see Jesus, but as Jesus passed by poor Zacchaeus was too short to see, so he climbed up in a tree to catch a glimpse. That day, lost amongst a huge crowd, struggling to see Jesus, Zacchaeus didn't just see Him, He saw Zacchaeus! Jesus the Savior, saw poor Zacchaeus up in that tree and He knew that what that sad, lost little man needed, to be seen.
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10
Genesis 16 is absolutely about taking matters into our own hands, about consequences and miss-steps of faith, but it is also about a God who sees, and loves, and cares for the lost and lonely.
For some reason it is easy to skip over Hagar in this story. Even though she has a major role, since the narrative as a whole is about Abram, she becomes a minor character, a means to teaching Abram a valuable lesson. Yet that is not how God saw her. In fact God was very careful to show that though the story isn't really about her, she is very important to Him.
After running away because Sarai mistreated her, lost in the desert, alone, pregnant and likely scared, Hagar found out that she too was significant.
"The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur." Genesis 16:8
I have to stop here, "The angel of the LORD found her..." He was looking for her! God seeks us when we are lost! How awesome is that.
"And he said, 'Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?' 'I am running away from my mistress Sarai,' she answered. Then the angel of the LORD told her, 'Go back to your mistress and submit to her.' The angel added, 'I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.' The angel of the LORD also said to her; 'You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of you misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and every one's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.' She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: 'You are the God who sees me,' for she said, 'I have now seen the One who sees me,' Genesis 16:7-13
Hagar wasn't just some slave girl to be used and mistreated, she was loved by the LORD. Though her story was part of a much bigger picture, God still had a purpose just for her. When she was lost and alone, God came and spoke words of comfort (granted some of the words might not have been all that comforting but we'll get to that tomorrow). He saw her misery and reached out to her.
That's who our God is. He's the God who sees our hidden pains. Who hears our silent cries. Hagar might have been a minor character in Abram's story but she was the lead in her own. Just because we don't know that much about her doesn't mean she was any less important to God.
You and I might feel like a minor characters in someone else's story, living our lives in the shadow of our parents, our spouse, our siblings or boss, but God sees each of us as a main character. He sees YOU!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Giving God a helping hand: Day 1
You will need your Bible today.
I am not a patient person. If you knew me personally you might disagree with that statement, but believe me I am not patient. You see God has been working to build patience in me for most of my life. For most of the "big" things in life I have had to wait what feels like a ridculous amount of time for.
I meet my husband when we were 16. He had always planned on going to the Air Force Academy for school then going into the Air Force. For me that meant we could not get married until he finished school. I also could not afford to move to Colorado (nor would my parents allow it) to be near him so it also meant 4 years long distance. I had to wait 5 years to be with him, even though God had made it clear to me within the first year of dating that this was the husband He had chosen for me.
After we got married we decided to wait a few years before starting a family. After 18 months we felt we were ready. Eight years later, after too many doctors, drugs and tears, God made clear to us that conception was not how He planned to form our family. He opened the doors to adoption and my husband and I changed gears accordingly. Its now been 5 years since God changed our course, I am as sure as ever that adoption is His best and perfect plan for us, yet we are still waiting for our first child.
I hate waiting, it doesn't so much get easier the longer you wait, it just becomes routine. At least until something comes up that reminds you of how much you want what you are waiting for, or gives you an 'out' to the pain of waiting. That's when waiting become dangerous, yet that is exactly where God tends to put us. He desires spiritual maturity and that means choosing His way even when that means passing over the 'simple solution' to wait for His perfect plan.
This weeks lesson is very personal to me. I can relate to Abram and Sarai in so many different ways that this story always touches a soft spot in my heart, yet God has also used this story as a warning beacon in my life. Lets pray that we all can learn from Abram and Sarai and choose not to take the 'simple solution.'
Please read Genesis 16:1-16.
It seems like only yesterday we were discussing how great Abram's faith was. Only one chapter before this God had calmed Abram's fears with words of peace and reassurance that He would keep His promises. Abram's faith had been counted as righteousness! Now we see him and Sarai falling into fear and lack of faith and taking matters into their own hands.
We have no way of knowing exactly how much time occurs between Genesis 15 and Genesis 16, it could have been several years, a few months or even a few days (We talked before about how quickly our emotions can move us from the mountaintop to the valley). What we do know is that it had been 10 years since Abram first heard the call of God, received the promises (including many descendants) and moved out of Ur. Abram was now 86 years old and his beautiful wife, Sarai was 76. His fertility may have been waning but hers had long past departed.
Even in our world of modern medicine and science, infertility can be devastating. The pain of wanting something that seems so simple and natural for everyone else can very quickly take your mind and emotions to a very ugly place. The feelings of inadequacy, helplessness, and even judgment play on your mind and can very easily push you to the place of "I will do anything to get what I want."
For Abram and Sarai infertility would have been even harder. Childlessness was seen as a curse from the gods, and they would likely have been looked down upon by the people around them. Their infertility was a very public shame. They also had few options.
While today medicine offers a wide variety of treatments, many of which are often highly effective, Abram and Sarai had only 4 options. Abram could have divorced Sarai and found a fertile wife, or he could have taken a 2nd wife. They could have adopted an heir (which was what Abram was thinking at the beginning of chapter 15) or Sarai could choose a slave to bear a child for her.*
Waiting is so hard, and waiting for something you are emotionally invested in is utterly painful. Infertility might not be something you are struggling with but I have no doubt that you have felt the pain of waiting for something. The struggle of waiting is pretty much universal, and so is wanting to take the easy way out.
For Abram and Sarai using a slave to have a baby was a completely viable option in their culture. God had told Abram that he would have an heir from his own body, when that didn't seem to be working out with his wife , plan B seemed like a rational choice. After all God hadn't said that the baby would be from Sarai's body and she was way too old to hold out hope of conceiving. Having Hagar carry a baby for them seemed like a good compromise. The problem was it wasn't God's choice. The simple solution rarely is.
As painful as it can be to wait, God's will is for us to grow through the pain so that when the waiting is over and we have what we have always wanted we will be just a little bit more like Jesus.
"...We also rejoice in our suffering, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God had poured out his love into our hears by the Holy Spirit, whom he had given us." Romans 5:3 & 4
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
Whatever you wait for, inevitably there will be a 'simple solution' The human mind is amazing in its ability to rationalize even a the most obviously bad choice when pain is involved. We must be so careful and so prayerful to seek God's will, any other option will only lead to more pain and heartache.
God's plan is not for us to suffer in our waiting, it is to grow. To become spiritually mature. He wants us to rest in Him. To trust Him even when, in our wildest imagination, we can't see what He's going to do. He is likely going to surprise you with a better outcome then you wildest imagination could have ever conceived.
"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:14
* Walton, John H. Zondervan Illustarted Bible Backgrounds Commentary Volume 1. Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervan. 2009. pg. 87
I am not a patient person. If you knew me personally you might disagree with that statement, but believe me I am not patient. You see God has been working to build patience in me for most of my life. For most of the "big" things in life I have had to wait what feels like a ridculous amount of time for.
I meet my husband when we were 16. He had always planned on going to the Air Force Academy for school then going into the Air Force. For me that meant we could not get married until he finished school. I also could not afford to move to Colorado (nor would my parents allow it) to be near him so it also meant 4 years long distance. I had to wait 5 years to be with him, even though God had made it clear to me within the first year of dating that this was the husband He had chosen for me.
After we got married we decided to wait a few years before starting a family. After 18 months we felt we were ready. Eight years later, after too many doctors, drugs and tears, God made clear to us that conception was not how He planned to form our family. He opened the doors to adoption and my husband and I changed gears accordingly. Its now been 5 years since God changed our course, I am as sure as ever that adoption is His best and perfect plan for us, yet we are still waiting for our first child.
I hate waiting, it doesn't so much get easier the longer you wait, it just becomes routine. At least until something comes up that reminds you of how much you want what you are waiting for, or gives you an 'out' to the pain of waiting. That's when waiting become dangerous, yet that is exactly where God tends to put us. He desires spiritual maturity and that means choosing His way even when that means passing over the 'simple solution' to wait for His perfect plan.
This weeks lesson is very personal to me. I can relate to Abram and Sarai in so many different ways that this story always touches a soft spot in my heart, yet God has also used this story as a warning beacon in my life. Lets pray that we all can learn from Abram and Sarai and choose not to take the 'simple solution.'
Please read Genesis 16:1-16.
It seems like only yesterday we were discussing how great Abram's faith was. Only one chapter before this God had calmed Abram's fears with words of peace and reassurance that He would keep His promises. Abram's faith had been counted as righteousness! Now we see him and Sarai falling into fear and lack of faith and taking matters into their own hands.
We have no way of knowing exactly how much time occurs between Genesis 15 and Genesis 16, it could have been several years, a few months or even a few days (We talked before about how quickly our emotions can move us from the mountaintop to the valley). What we do know is that it had been 10 years since Abram first heard the call of God, received the promises (including many descendants) and moved out of Ur. Abram was now 86 years old and his beautiful wife, Sarai was 76. His fertility may have been waning but hers had long past departed.
Even in our world of modern medicine and science, infertility can be devastating. The pain of wanting something that seems so simple and natural for everyone else can very quickly take your mind and emotions to a very ugly place. The feelings of inadequacy, helplessness, and even judgment play on your mind and can very easily push you to the place of "I will do anything to get what I want."
For Abram and Sarai infertility would have been even harder. Childlessness was seen as a curse from the gods, and they would likely have been looked down upon by the people around them. Their infertility was a very public shame. They also had few options.
While today medicine offers a wide variety of treatments, many of which are often highly effective, Abram and Sarai had only 4 options. Abram could have divorced Sarai and found a fertile wife, or he could have taken a 2nd wife. They could have adopted an heir (which was what Abram was thinking at the beginning of chapter 15) or Sarai could choose a slave to bear a child for her.*
Waiting is so hard, and waiting for something you are emotionally invested in is utterly painful. Infertility might not be something you are struggling with but I have no doubt that you have felt the pain of waiting for something. The struggle of waiting is pretty much universal, and so is wanting to take the easy way out.
For Abram and Sarai using a slave to have a baby was a completely viable option in their culture. God had told Abram that he would have an heir from his own body, when that didn't seem to be working out with his wife , plan B seemed like a rational choice. After all God hadn't said that the baby would be from Sarai's body and she was way too old to hold out hope of conceiving. Having Hagar carry a baby for them seemed like a good compromise. The problem was it wasn't God's choice. The simple solution rarely is.
As painful as it can be to wait, God's will is for us to grow through the pain so that when the waiting is over and we have what we have always wanted we will be just a little bit more like Jesus.
"...We also rejoice in our suffering, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God had poured out his love into our hears by the Holy Spirit, whom he had given us." Romans 5:3 & 4
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
Whatever you wait for, inevitably there will be a 'simple solution' The human mind is amazing in its ability to rationalize even a the most obviously bad choice when pain is involved. We must be so careful and so prayerful to seek God's will, any other option will only lead to more pain and heartache.
God's plan is not for us to suffer in our waiting, it is to grow. To become spiritually mature. He wants us to rest in Him. To trust Him even when, in our wildest imagination, we can't see what He's going to do. He is likely going to surprise you with a better outcome then you wildest imagination could have ever conceived.
"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:14
* Walton, John H. Zondervan Illustarted Bible Backgrounds Commentary Volume 1. Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervan. 2009. pg. 87
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