I love these words to one of my favorite songs of all time ("Romans" by Jennifer Knapp).
So, last time I blogged was not only over a year ago, but I was also dealing with a similar circumstance. It's like there's some kind of switch that goes off and suddenly I'm hearing the same word everywhere. The word for this week?
Vulnerable.
I've heard this word over the course of a couple of weeks on TV, Radio and from the people that I happen to encounter in my everyday life.
What does it mean to be vulnerable?
Why should I be?
Who cares if I am?
Merriam-Webster defines vulnerable as 1) capable of being physically or emotionally wounded, and 2) open to attack or damage.
If that's what it means to be vulnerable, then why in the world would I choose to be?
In the game of bridge, the term vulnerable takes on a different meaning. According to Merriam-Webster, to be vulnerable in contract bridge makes you: liable to increased penalties, but entitled to increased bonuses after winning a game.
I know almost nothing about bridge (that's a card game, right?), but I can certainly understand the value of a gamble that pays off. But what if it doesn't?
In Luke 18: 15-17, people were bringing even their infants to Jesus and the disciples rebuked them for it. Jesus called them back, saying: "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."
Instead of agreeing that His work was much too important, He exhorted everyone who was listening to have the approach of a child.
And who is more vulnerable in this world than a baby?
Helpless, unable to defend themselves, not much to lose...
To be vulnerable before God is truly to take off our own blinders to our condition and see ourselves for how we truly are: helpless, without a defense, nothing to lose.
And Jesus says that this is the only way to enter into the kingdom of God. That's a very good reason for such a gamble.
Except it isn't really a gamble at all. Just before the statement above, Jesus says in verse 16: "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
Belongs. Already.
So, if I'm promised everything, and I have nothing to lose...I would say that the payoff far exceeds the risk, wouldn't you?
21.3.10
Slow and steady wins the race.
Well, most stories or fables don't begin with a moral, but the famed fable behind this moral is not the point of my story. Still with me?
Do you ever have one of those weeks where you keep hearing the same "catch phrase" or platitude? This is kind of like that, but not exactly.
This week, I keep waking up with these six words on my mind. Which of course makes me ask the question: why?
I haven't heard this story or phrase in a long time. So, I asked the Lord to show me what the reason might be for Him putting this on my heart. I went to Wikipedia and read the fable. Nothing popped out at me. Hmm. So, I turned to the Word and just happened to open to Hebrews 12:1-
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (ESV)
Surprisingly, with "the race" being on my mind, the words that stuck out to me weren't "run the race." Actually, what jumped off the page were the words "with endurance."
Through research in my Greek dictionary of the NT, I learned that the word was initially translated as patience (KJV). When I found the Greek word, I was surprised to see that it literally means: "a remaining under", "patient enduring" and my favorite--"cheerful (or hopeful) endurance" and usually refers to enduring life's trials.
So what does this all mean to me?
First, I wanted to know how Webster defined the word "endure." What I got: "to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it."
Nice. Now I'm getting somewhere.
Because this is where I begin to understand why I've been so confused in my race, lately. God has been shining light into my life and glaringly revealing many impurities that are both embarassing and unnerving.
They say beauty is skin deep, but I know that ugly reaches all the way down to the soul.
That ugliness is my flesh, my sin nature, who I am without Christ. How I long to be rid of it! But lately, even though I feel like the blinders have been taken off to my condition, I feel as though I've made no progess in my race. I keep asking God to refine me and snap me out of this "me-focused" way of life, but...nothing. Well, seemingly nothing.
I now am starting to understand that I'm gaining knowledge by going through this. But I haven't attained that wisdom yet. I am enduring. I am remaining under that knowledge until I am through this. It is beyond my reach. It is above my understanding. I am under it, for now. Got it.
What I also know is that while I am waiting, I need to maintain an attitude of hope, to cheerfully endure, so as not to shift the focus to my suffering (as a pharisee might have), but to His grace.
2 Corinthians 12:9-
"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (ESV)
So, I boast. I am weak and without understanding, but thank goodness that His power is made perfect in my weakness. Oh Jesus, let your power rest on me.
Slowly, steadily I run this race. The thing is, Christ has already won the race set before me. So, the journey can and should be cheerful and hopeful. The victory is already mine in Christ!
Do you ever have one of those weeks where you keep hearing the same "catch phrase" or platitude? This is kind of like that, but not exactly.
This week, I keep waking up with these six words on my mind. Which of course makes me ask the question: why?
I haven't heard this story or phrase in a long time. So, I asked the Lord to show me what the reason might be for Him putting this on my heart. I went to Wikipedia and read the fable. Nothing popped out at me. Hmm. So, I turned to the Word and just happened to open to Hebrews 12:1-
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (ESV)
Surprisingly, with "the race" being on my mind, the words that stuck out to me weren't "run the race." Actually, what jumped off the page were the words "with endurance."
Through research in my Greek dictionary of the NT, I learned that the word was initially translated as patience (KJV). When I found the Greek word, I was surprised to see that it literally means: "a remaining under", "patient enduring" and my favorite--"cheerful (or hopeful) endurance" and usually refers to enduring life's trials.
So what does this all mean to me?
First, I wanted to know how Webster defined the word "endure." What I got: "to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it."
Nice. Now I'm getting somewhere.
Because this is where I begin to understand why I've been so confused in my race, lately. God has been shining light into my life and glaringly revealing many impurities that are both embarassing and unnerving.
They say beauty is skin deep, but I know that ugly reaches all the way down to the soul.
That ugliness is my flesh, my sin nature, who I am without Christ. How I long to be rid of it! But lately, even though I feel like the blinders have been taken off to my condition, I feel as though I've made no progess in my race. I keep asking God to refine me and snap me out of this "me-focused" way of life, but...nothing. Well, seemingly nothing.
I now am starting to understand that I'm gaining knowledge by going through this. But I haven't attained that wisdom yet. I am enduring. I am remaining under that knowledge until I am through this. It is beyond my reach. It is above my understanding. I am under it, for now. Got it.
What I also know is that while I am waiting, I need to maintain an attitude of hope, to cheerfully endure, so as not to shift the focus to my suffering (as a pharisee might have), but to His grace.
2 Corinthians 12:9-
"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (ESV)
So, I boast. I am weak and without understanding, but thank goodness that His power is made perfect in my weakness. Oh Jesus, let your power rest on me.
Slowly, steadily I run this race. The thing is, Christ has already won the race set before me. So, the journey can and should be cheerful and hopeful. The victory is already mine in Christ!
My journey.
Let me begin by saying this: I have no illusions of "new" revelation from the Lord regarding His word. In fact, I am quite convinced that there truly is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). I do, however, believe that at times in our lives there are truths that are more relevant to us at a specific point on our journey--like a refreshing drink of cool water to a weary runner.
Sometimes, we only hear what we are ready and willing to hear.
Still, the words of our testimonies assist each other in our daily ability to overcome the dark lies of the enemy (Revelation 12:11). This is so important because when the light of truth is spoken into the lives of believers, and we receive it...we are set free.
It is for this reason that I share what God has been taking me through and teaching me in my personal life. I am nothing apart from who I am in Christ (Romans 6:8). So I humbly begin what I hope to be a journal of growth and a testimony of a freed prisoner learning what it means to be free and how to freely live.
Sometimes, we only hear what we are ready and willing to hear.
Still, the words of our testimonies assist each other in our daily ability to overcome the dark lies of the enemy (Revelation 12:11). This is so important because when the light of truth is spoken into the lives of believers, and we receive it...we are set free.
It is for this reason that I share what God has been taking me through and teaching me in my personal life. I am nothing apart from who I am in Christ (Romans 6:8). So I humbly begin what I hope to be a journal of growth and a testimony of a freed prisoner learning what it means to be free and how to freely live.
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