So I've been reading this book trilogy that I am going to have to highly reccomend to anyone with the ability to read. And seeing as how you are reading this right now -- that means you! I don't want to give too much away about these books because I want you to read them so instead I am just going to say what these books have made me think about....
So, I feel like I have a better look at what it was really like for people who were around when Jesus was and I can really understand now why they thought he was crazy. I mean who is this guy who prances in (I don't think Jesus really pranced for the record) and tells everyone not to fast while he is around, tells them that to win the war they've got to turn the other cheek and love their enemies, he runs away and hides when they try to enthrone him, and goes through their holy places in a rage at the desecration of the place?! I mean if he wasn't who he said he was then he was simply crazy. I don't think you can even call Jesus a good teacher --- he wasn't really. he told stories that people couldn't understand and never gave direct answers to anyone's questions. I think if I were around back in that day too that I am not so sure I wouldn't be yelling along with everyone else 'crucify him!' , I don't think I would have gotten it either -- it's not that the disciples were stupid.
It has made me think about the narrow way in which I view God and the things that I want Him to be that cause me to miss out on who He really is and what He is really trying to say. Man, I don't want to be those people that have been reading and following the law of God for so long that when it becomes flesh and turns everything upside-down that they can't see God. I don't want to love the law or the idea of God more than I know and love Him. I want to see Him and respond even if it goes against everything I thought it would look like.
I'll never forget about a month ago I was reading one morning and really hurting for my friend and being frustrated that it seemed like in her life God would just never give her a break and God said to me .... 'Erin, don't be stupid.' I know! I was like 'Excuse me?' but there it was in scripture... "And when will you (Erin) understand, stupid ones? He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see?' Psalm94:8-9
I don't want to miss Him and it freaked me out to realize that I don't think I would have recognized Jesus or even really liked him either if I had been around back then. I am praying that we wouldn't be blinded by our own expectations and that we would KNOW Jesus intimately enough to recognize Him in our world today and not be fooled by imitations of Him.
Read it: it goes Black, Red, and then White
1 comment:
so true--i read the gospels sometimes, and i'm like "what is He saying? what is He talking about? who does He think He is?" and sometimes, quite honestly, i can't decide if i like it.
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