But He's good."
~ C.S. Lewis
God is thoroughly predictable. His love, grace, mercy, and absolute goodness do not waver.
God is thoroughly unpredictable. He directed Abraham to sacrifice Isaac; He subjected His own Son to unthinkable abuse and death; He gave His people Israel over to spiritual blindness for a season, facilitating salvation of the Gentile world.
Our Lord promises not safety, but rather an increasing measure of spiritual life in every unsafe "come," "follow," "go." Amid our ignorance of how far today's call to martyrdom may go, it is not wise to run ahead of or attempt to anticipate an unsafe God.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." This [Jesus] spoke, signifying by what death [Peter] would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
~ John 21:18-19 (NKJV)
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Photo copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy
I thought of that verse from John so many times as I watched my mother gradually lose the capacity to live alone and had to depend on others.
ReplyDeleteAt church we have been singing a Jeremy Riddle song, "Furious" that talks about God's love being untamed and furious.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds threatening but the message is that is unloosed and without barriers. Unsafe at any cost!
Susan, I suppose it is always a harsh reality to see that we really don't control our lives. Even so, there is glorious comfort in knowing the One Who does, and in yeilding our weak selves to Him.
ReplyDeleteDavid, I looked up and listened to the song. Thanks for sharing it. : ) GREAT lyrics! I'm posting them here for anyone else who's curious.
ReplyDeleteFURIOUS
~ Jeremy Riddle
Nothing can tear us from
The grip of His mighty love
We’ve only glimpsed, His vast affection
Heard whispers of, His heart and passion
It’s pouring down …
His love is deep, His love is wide
And it covers us
His love is fierce, His love is strong
It is furious
His love is sweet, His love is wild
And it's waking hearts to life
The Father loves and sends His Son
The Son lays down His life for all
He lavishes His love upon us
He calls us now, His sons and daughters
He’s reaching out …
… and it's waking hearts to life
He is waking hearts to life.
Amen! Awaken me today, Lord Jesus.
This can be such a misunderstood or glossed over topic. You approached it in a great way, and it stirs me up. Thanks Anne.
ReplyDeleteJason, I got to thinking that maybe I should have said that God's character is thoroughly predictible, while His directions are thoroughly unpredictible. Either way, we serve
ReplyDeleteone
cool
God!
It's exciting—and not without jeopardy—to run with Him.