The Largest Lack
It seems funny to me, that a race which criticizes itself so much for being imperfect struggles so hard to achieve perfection. why do we find new failings in old character traits? I am worlds away from who I was last year, but if anything I feel even further from perfection!
Just as Moses, we see the flaws and try to correct them ourselves. Just as Moses, we fail in our own strength because we are not ready. Just as Moses, we run away from the problem in frustration and fear, overwhelmed. Just as Moses we wander in a desert place, until finally a character trait has been strengthened. Then, just as Moses, God meets us and brings us back to our purpose.
All along, of course, we are venting our anger and frustration at not being 'ready' already. I think, maybe, we could learn to be more like Joshua, or David.
Take Joshua: told he was to enter the promised land, wandered another 40 years or so in the desert. Did so faithfully. Spent more time that anyone else in God's presence - Moses would go back to his tent, but Joshua would sit there. 40 years later, leads God's people into the promised land. God tells him repeatedly, "Be courageous," and then tells him to march around a city for a week and blow trumpets. He simply does so.
Look at David - shepherd boy from nowhere, gets anointed to be the king, spends his life tending sheep and singing songs. Then some giant makes him righteously angry, gets promised the king's daughter and goes off to be a general. Spends several years running from the jealous king, refusing to touch him because of his integrity before God. And we complain that it's hard to get out of bed in the mornings!
so now I strive to be like Joshua. I try to be patient, and spend my time in the presence of the Lord. There's no substitute for it, and no preparation like it. Let's hope I can do it more often, before my failings destroy me :-)
Just as Moses, we see the flaws and try to correct them ourselves. Just as Moses, we fail in our own strength because we are not ready. Just as Moses, we run away from the problem in frustration and fear, overwhelmed. Just as Moses we wander in a desert place, until finally a character trait has been strengthened. Then, just as Moses, God meets us and brings us back to our purpose.
All along, of course, we are venting our anger and frustration at not being 'ready' already. I think, maybe, we could learn to be more like Joshua, or David.
Take Joshua: told he was to enter the promised land, wandered another 40 years or so in the desert. Did so faithfully. Spent more time that anyone else in God's presence - Moses would go back to his tent, but Joshua would sit there. 40 years later, leads God's people into the promised land. God tells him repeatedly, "Be courageous," and then tells him to march around a city for a week and blow trumpets. He simply does so.
Look at David - shepherd boy from nowhere, gets anointed to be the king, spends his life tending sheep and singing songs. Then some giant makes him righteously angry, gets promised the king's daughter and goes off to be a general. Spends several years running from the jealous king, refusing to touch him because of his integrity before God. And we complain that it's hard to get out of bed in the mornings!
so now I strive to be like Joshua. I try to be patient, and spend my time in the presence of the Lord. There's no substitute for it, and no preparation like it. Let's hope I can do it more often, before my failings destroy me :-)
posted by Merlz at 1:50 AM
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