Why did God give us the gift of Jesus? Sometimes i wonder if i really appreciate the fact that Jesus wasn’t this just a crazy man with a bizarre prediction that failed. He was more than a man, and his bizarre prediction was and is salvation. It is an honor to serve a God that delivered on his promises and, more importantly, the ultimate promise. He rose from the dead and conquered not only his own death, but death completely.
As i was driving home from Craig tonight, i couldn’t help but think about how God has protected me through the toughest of times in the past year, and how he has ultimately delivered my family into his hands. God, thank you for being so faithful! I was thinking about where i would be had i not been adopted into God’s family 10 or so years ago. The bible tells us that “the weak shall lead the strong” in 1 Corinthians 1:27. In a worldly view, it’s an odd think to be praying for, but my prayer is that God would make me weaker so he can become stronger in me.
My thoughts during the drive centered a lot on my trip in a few weeks to China. It blows me away that Jesus chose to use a punk like me to do his work. I think being home and being surrounded by a family that chooses Christ over the world does something to the heart. After lunch today, my brothers and i took a drive out to the lake and spent an hour or so skipping rocks and talking about life. It was a great hour spent together reminiscing in a place that we all spent so much time growing up. Oh what God has done in that time! As we grew up in a broken family with issues that seemed huge to us, but probably were no different than any other broken family, we were always searching for the void to be filled. It’s great to know that we have the ultimate void filler.
A few weeks ago I challenged myself to pray whenever I’m driving alone, but tonight I felt led to just think about Jesus and what he’s done. I remember a year or so ago reading Psalm 63:4 “I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.” If God ceased to bless our lives, it would still be enough to praise him forever. I think when one recognizes that, Jesus is fueled to bless our lives. In the gospels when people run to Jesus with the childlike faith, he literally can’t help himself. He has to bless them. When we have childlike faith and truly delight ourselves in Him, he will give us the desires of our hearts, even if we are clueless as to what those are. God has given me a few clueless desires.
God is before us. It is beyond neat when we can see His plan unfold. Tonight I couldn’t help but think of how His plan has unfolded until now. And beyond that, He is working in that same way, right now, in my life. But here’s the greater part, he’s doing it in yours too. My prayer is that you would get away this week and reflect on his love for you. Look for the evidence of that love.
